Original Smashing Pumpkins Lineup Won't Reunite
Billy Corgan recently told Rolling Stone that the classic Smashing Pumpkins lineup will never reunite. The classic lineup is considered to be Corgan (vocals, guitar), Jimmy Chamberlin (drums), James Iha (guitar), and D'arcy Wretzky (bass). This is the lineup that performed on Gish, considered to be one of their best albums.
"No. That's just one of those things that are never going to happen. If you don't see somebody for a while, there's the old thing, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'. Well, we haven't had absence.
"The things that have happened between us in the interim haven't been good. There's been lawsuits and lots of stupid stuff. It's only made it worse. If it was bad before, it's really bad now."
The Pumpkins always were Billy's band. He created and wrote most of their music and wrote all their lyrics. I can entertain arguments that Chamberlain is just as vital to the band because if you listen to the Pumpkins stuff a lot of it based on Jimmy's powerful, concussive drums that compliment Corgan's whiney guitar and vocals. I always felt D'arcy, while a competent bass player, was there more for eye candy than actual musicianship. Melissa Auf Der Maur, who replaced D'arcy was a better bass player...and also was hot to oogle. Hell, I even enjoyed Melissa's solo work and saw her on her own (hell of a show).
If you are of the same opinion I am, the good news is that Corgan and Jimmy are not enemies:
Jimmy and I aren't enemies - he's just off doing what he wants to do, as he should. There's not super bad blood between me and Jimmy that we'd never get on stage again.
"But I cannot in any way, shape, or form ever envision standing on a stage, playing music again with James and D'arcy. I just don't see any situation where that would be possible.
I am not sure James needs the Pumpkins with A Perfect Circle heading out on tour and the various other side projects he has.
Posted by Craig Wettner at 5/10/2011 6:34 PM 
Categories: The Smashing Pumpkins
Tags: The Smashing Pumpkins
Categories: The Smashing Pumpkins
Tags: The Smashing Pumpkins
According to rumors I've heard (which were verified by producer, Butch Vig, who produced Siamese Dream), D'Arcy and James didn't even play on the Pumpkins recordings.
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According to Wikipedia, their parts were overdubbed by Corgan because they would lock themselves in the bathroom (D'arcy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_Dream#Recording_and_production
I consider essential SP Corgan and Chamberlain anyway, but as a perfectionist, it would be nice to have the original members there. It isn't necessary though as long as you have Corgan...it is his band.
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Yeah, according to the interview I read with Vig, James & D'Arcy couldn't hack it in the studio.
I saw the original lineup back in the day....Corgan and Chamberlain were running shit, that's for damn sure!
I consider Smashing Pumpkins to be Corgan and Chamberlain....otherwise it's just another chinese democracy, hahaha.
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