Early life Dave Abbruzzese was born in
Stamford, Connecticut, and grew up in
Mesquite, Texas, where he attended Vanston Jr. High. Abbruzzese grew up drumming on his dad's
tackle boxes. While living at home the only thing in his bedroom (besides a bed) was his drum set. Abbruzzese dropped out of
North Mesquite High School and focused on performing music. He started playing in various Texas-based bands including Segueway, Flaming Hemorrhoids, and
Course of Empire. Abbruzzese also formed a band called Dr. Tongue, a three-piece,
funk-influenced band that gigged in the
Dallas and
Denton area. Abbruzzese joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the
Ten album. Abbruzzese toured extensively for
Ten and performed on
MTV Unplugged and a
Saturday Night Live appearance. Abbruzzese made his studio debut with Pearl Jam when the band released the single "
Even Flow" in April 1992. They re-recorded the song for its single release with Abbruzzese on drums instead of original drummer
Dave Krusen. Two songs for the
Singles Soundtrack and the b-side "Dirty Frank" also came from the same recording session. and spent five weeks at number one on the
Billboard 200.
Vs. was nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995. From
Vs., the song "
Daughter" received a
Grammy nomination for
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and the song "
Go" received a Grammy nomination for
Best Hard Rock Performance. Abbruzzese toured extensively for
Vs. and performed on a
Saturday Night Live appearance. Abbruzzese was the primary songwriter for the music in the band's songs "
Go", "Last Exit" and "Angel" (from the 1993 fan club Christmas single). He played with Pearl Jam through April 17, 1994. In 1994, the band began a much-publicized boycott of
Ticketmaster. Abbruzzese performed on the band's third studio album
Vitalogy. However, he was fired in August 1994 due to personality conflicts with the band members, four months before the album was released. Ament stated, "Dave was a different egg for sure. There were a lot of things, personality wise, where I didn't see eye to eye with him. He was more comfortable being a rock star than the rest of us. Partying, girls, cars. I don't know if anyone was in the same space." In a departure from the protocol of previous years which included all members of bands who had contributed to commercially-released recordings, the Hall named which specific former members would be inducted from each nominated band. The only former member of Pearl Jam to be included was Dave Krusen. Reacting to the snub, Abbruzzese said, "The members of Pearl Jam have got to know what's the right thing to do. They can't justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not. If there is still a part of that band that remembers how hard we worked, how much blood and how much sweat ... They will do the right thing." He added, "That band and its management have never been ones to shy away when an injustice is done. Let’s see if they still have the courage to fight the good fight!" Pearl Jam later responded with an open letter on
Facebook inviting all their former drummers to the induction. ==Other musical projects==