David Krusen (Tacoma, Washington, 1966) is best known as the original drummer for Pearl Jam and for his work on their debut album, 'Ten' (1991).



Dave Krusen began playing locally in the Seattle area in 1979 while he was in high school. His first band, Outrigger, was formed with his friends from high school. Throughout the 1980s, Krusen had several stints playing with Seattle area musical acts, including Boibs, Agent Boy, Gary Williams, Tramps of Panic, Liar's Club, Tal Goettling, Hard Time, and Warm Drive.



Dave Krusen was recruited in 1990 by bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard to be the drummer for Pearl Jam. Krusen was asked to join Pearl Jam after auditioning with the band.



Krusen was a member of the band from its first official show on October 22, 1990 to the completion of the band's debut album, Ten (1991). After the recording sessions for Ten were completed, Krusen left Pearl Jam in May 1991 and checked himself into rehabilitation. According to the drummer, he was suffering from personal problems at the time: "It was a great experience. I felt from the beginning of that band that it was something special. They had to let me go. I couldn't stop drinking, and it was causing problems. They gave me many chances, but I couldn't get it together."



After leaving Pearl Jam, Krusen teamed up with former Son of Man vocalist Tal Goettling, bass player Matt McClinton, and guitarist Tim Bethune to form the short-lived but highly acclaimed Purple Decade. The band recorded two demo tapes before imploding under the pressures of the Seattle and Los Angeles music scenes.



In the mid-1990s, Krusen joined Beth Liebling and Ryan Shinn in the band Hovercraft under the stage name "Karl 3-30". Krusen replaced previous drummer Eddie Vedder. With a more technically proficient drummer, the band was now free to play beyond the lo-fidelity noise experiments of its debut release, and play proper shows with structured improvisation and avant experimantalism. While as a member of Hovercraft, Krusen toured with the band and recorded the album Akathisia (1997).



David Krusen was the second drummer for Candlebox, replacing previous drummer Scott Mercado. Krusen joined in 1997 and recorded the album Happy Pills (1998) while as a member of the band. Krusen left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Shannon Larkin of Ugly Kid Joe. Krusen completed eight tracks on the latest Candlebox record, Into the Sun, which was released in July 2008.



David Krusen played drums with the band Unified Theory on its self-titled album, issued in August 2000. The band was made up of two ex-Blind Melon members (bassist Brad Smith and guitarist Christopher Thorn) and newcomer Chris Shinn on vocals/guitar. Unified Theory began to form in early 1998.



While working on tracks for a second album, delays set the band back, and Krusen grew somewhat frustrated and left. This eventually lead to Unified Theory's break-up.



In 2004, Krusen performed with musician Shawn Snyder as part of his backing band. He was a part of a Seattle, Washington-based band called Novatone which released the album Time Can't Wait in 2005. He was Cheyenne Kimball's drummer from 2005 to 2007 and played on her debut album, The Day Has Come (2006).



Dave is currently working on a blues/noise-groove, avant-garde record and performing live and in the studio with various artists including Martyr Reef, Carolyna Loveless, Chris Robinson and Puppies and Kittens.



In 2008, Dave Krusen was the drummer for the band The Kings Royal during the band's summer tour with Candlebox. He has been working with Ida Maria for her US debut.