Monday 16 May 2022 07:19 AM Incredible moment Oakland teenager Kai Neukermans invited to play the drums at ... trends now

Monday 16 May 2022 07:19 AM Incredible moment Oakland teenager Kai Neukermans invited to play the drums at ... trends now
Monday 16 May 2022 07:19 AM Incredible moment Oakland teenager Kai Neukermans invited to play the drums at ... trends now

Monday 16 May 2022 07:19 AM Incredible moment Oakland teenager Kai Neukermans invited to play the drums at ... trends now

A teenager from Oakland who hasn't even graduated high school yet took the stage in front of 20,000 adoring fans on Friday night as he stepped in and played the drums for grunge band Pearl Jam.

Kai Neukermans, 18, from nearby Mill Valley, got in contact with the daughter of Pearl Jam's lead singer Eddie Vedder, Olivia, after hearing how the group's regular drummer, Matt Cameron, had come down with COVID and was unable to play. 

Kai and Olivia met in 2018 and, after hearing of the groups predicament, he sent her a text offering to play for her father's group. 

Kai Neukermans, 18, appeared on stage with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, left, as he was invited to play the drums for the band

Kai Neukermans, 18, appeared on stage with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, left, as he was invited to play the drums for the band

The teenager, pictured playing for Pearl Jam, got in touch with Vedder's daughter and suggested he could help out after their regular drummer caught COVID

The teenager, pictured playing for Pearl Jam, got in touch with Vedder's daughter and suggested he could help out after their regular drummer caught COVID

The group were performing at a 20,000-strong crowd at the Oakland Arena on Friday night

The group were performing at a 20,000-strong crowd at the Oakland Arena on Friday night

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'It was a last-minute thing, and I didn't think it was going to work out,' Neukermans said to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kai was in class at Tamalpais High School when he got the message that the band wanted to see a video of him playing - with a plan that he would step in for one of the songs on Friday night at the Oakland Arena.

He recorded a video of himself playing along to the track 'Mind Your Manners' from the group's 2013 Lightning Bolt album and sent it to the band. 

Within an hour, their tour manager told him to come down to the stadium.

Although the group had secured Josh Klinghoffer, formerly o fthe Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Oakland musician Richard Stuverud to sit in for Cameron, they agreed to let Kai play one song, partway through the first set. 

Drummer Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam was unable to perform because of COVID

Drummer Matt Cameron of

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