Pearl Jam to Wrap New Album by End of 2012?

Pearl Jam should be finishing up work on a new album by the end of the year, if comments Matt Cameron made during a recent interview with Rhythm magazine are to be taken at face value. The drummer, who these days also sits behind the drum kit for Soundgarden, spoke of a busy rest of the year that involves plans with both — recording an album with one band, and touring behind a new album with the other.

“I’m finishing a Pearl Jam record and then supporting the new Soundgarden record from November [on],” Cameron says in the cover story. “But I feel really good about both records and I really do want to support them and get them out there.”

Back in March, PJ guitarist Stone Gossard told Rolling Stone that the band was well on its way to finishing a follow-up to 2009′s  ’Backspacer,’ but little has been said on the matter since then. But a 2012 wrap for the as-yet-untitled disc would be consistent with Gossard’s claim back then that they might be “a song or two away” from finishing it.

Meanwhile, Soundgarden’s first album in more than 15 years is in the can and is expected to drop this fall, with tour dates in support of it rumored to be in the works. Whatever ends up being on his schedule, though, Cameron admits that playing in both bands isn’t easy.

“The Pearl Jam management and Soundgarden management are always in contact so there haven’t been any clashes,” he says, “[but] I’ve had to put the brakes on some touring opportunities just because I wouldn’t have enough time to regroup … The remainder of this year is going to be really tight.”