Though it's almost impossible to believe that Billy Corgan would try to replace Jimmy Chamberlin, one of the best drummers of his generation, via open auditions, the Smashing Pumpkins' publicist just released the following statement:
Auditions will be held Friday, April 10 in Los Angeles for drummers who are looking to play with THE SMASHING PUMPKINS. They should send their background info, photos and performance web links via email only to: pumpkinsdrummer@gmail.com.
What's the matter, Billy -- the Illinois Entertainer's ad rates too steep? Craigslist is free, you know! Then again, it may prove hard indeed to find a percussionist who'd want such an, um, challenging gig...
I applied the second this came up on Chicagoist. Of course, I don't know how to play drums. But D'arcy didn't know how to play bass, so I figure it's fine.
Smashing Pumpkins after 2001 are officially Dead To Me... they've been on notice for some time, but this is the last straw.
What is he thinking? Perhaps nothing. Jim, can yo do a segment on Sound Opinions about Bands that continue carrying on when they in fact are not the bands they claim to be, but just parts?
Anyway, thanks for the updates as I don't visit that pumpkins site too much these days.
I'm in my 2nd or 3rd year of boycott (whenever they "got back together").
It's just that it hurts so much and at the same time it's like watching a car crash, I can't look away, but pre-2001 Pumpkins are still top of my list.
Adam
Mr DeRo,
I know a 18+ year-old guy who used to play drums in a Wire cover band -- you think he should apply? I think it would be a hoot.
-- MrJM
Too bad James Iha already snagged Bun E. Carlos.
dero- here is your chance to shine!
While some would contend that a career in print journalism is far from a solid prospect in 2009, I think my current job is like a rock compared to the prospects of anyone taking over that drum throne in the Smashing Pumpkins, thank you very much.
Yeesh. And I thought "The United States of America" was Billy's jump-the-shark moment. So continues Billy Pumpkinhead's slow descent into self-parody.
The more I hear about Billy Corgan & His Smashing Poseurs, the more I wonder if this is either A) a Billy-esque put-on, or B) a Djali Zwan Redux. Actually, I think I'd prefer the return of the first Zwan incarnation, since that proved to be a time when Billy still had some semblance of vision (however flawed it may have been).
I fear, however, that this is all because Señor Pepita is on an All-Ego, All-The-Time binge. He's always been about the ego, but it used to be cute because it was coupled with kick-ass tunes. Now, it's just irritating. What he really needs is a good open-handed smack upside his bald head. No, I'm kidding, I'd never advocate violence...
So here's how we take our revenge on The Smashtastic One: We all need to band together and help Tinted Windows sell a bajillion copies of their new record, no matter how bad or trite it is. I'd just want to see the look on Corgie's face upon learning the news that Iha was suddenly a rock god again and nobody gave a rat's ass about the Pumpkins anymore. ::sigh:: I can dream, right?
with Billy's king-size ego to deal with, only a sucker for punishment would take the gig.
Jimmy Chamberlain IS an amazing drummer and his talents were largely wasted in such
a truly AWFUL band, especially one so past their so-called "prime"
Mr. DeRogatis, I thought you were an arm-chair sociologist....not an arm chair psychologist. Rock journalist in 2009 isn't looking as secure....I don't think Dr. Phil is looking to hang it up anytime soon either.
Brendan D.....Did Corgan screw your mom or something or are you going with the standard "he raped my teenage memories" argument?
You can let Corgan's dubious band decisions bug you and have a person you likely don't know affect your life piss you off (assuming that he didn't f--- your Mom) or you can go on.
CL:
Well, so far as I know, Billy didn't f*** my mom, but, I mean, if he did, um, good for my mom for nailing a rock star, I guess.
...but seriously, Billy didn't rape my teenage memories. Actually, he did, but that's not why I'm so pissed off about the whole Smashing Pumpkins thing. I'm pissed off because he's taken one of my all-time favorite bands and turned it into a sideshow, gone from prominence to irrelevance. And he's done it because of his king-sized ego.
And I think I'm totally entitled to let the dubious decisions of someone I don't know affect me. I loved the Pumpkins, and I still love much of their music. That's what being a fan is. It goes back to that brilliant line from Almost Famous: "They don't even know what it means to be a fan, y'know? To love some silly piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts." I was a fan of the Pumpkins -- an obsessive one, at that. I could not have been more thrilled when I found out he was reforming the band. But he wasn't reforming the band; he just realized that the brand name was more powerful than "Zwan" or "Billy Corgan."
Is it stupid and childish to still live and die with the rock heroes of my youth? Maybe. Probably. But that's what happens when you're a fan: you sacrifice logic and rationality for that buzz you get when you hear your favorite band is coming to town, or when you hear that one rare song at a concert and feel it's being played just for you, or when you turn on your favorite record and still get the same charge off it on the thousandth time through that you did on the second. If you don't understand that, well, fine, but that's your business. But I'm perfectly content with being pissed off that one of my all-time rock heroes has allowed himself and his legacy to become a parody of what he once was.
Thank you Brendan D. Many of us feel the way you do. Billy lost a fan in me, what has happned to him. Maybe it's Irving Aszoff. But he has officially sold out. This is what selling out is, going back on all of your old pricipals, nit selling millions of records abd getting a number one but turning your back on what made you great and got you where you are.