Smashing Pumpkins Sheds Chamberlin: Corgan Only Original Left

NEW YORK — Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has left the Smashing Pumpkins.

Chamberlin's departure is posted on the Smashing Pumpkins' Web site. The announcement didn't say why the 44-year-old Chamberlin left the group.

Chamberlin joined the Grammy-winning alternative rock band in 1988 and played on all of their albums except 1998's "Adore." The band broke up in 2000 and reunited six years later with Chamberlin and frontman Billy Corgan on board.

The announcement says Corgan, who sings and plays guitar, will "continue to write and record as Smashing Pumpkins with plans to head into the studio this spring."

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On the Net:

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com

Comments

[78Thomas]

SP is similar to NIN. Corgan is SP as Reznor is NIN.
Smashing Pumkins will continue because it is Corgan. D'arcy and James Iha hardly recorded thier own instruments for Siamese Dream. Corgan ended up playing most of thier parts also.

[78Thomas]

Too bad, Jimmy is a phenomenal drummer.
But the Smashing Pumpkins is Corgan. The music and lyrics are of and by him.
There are hundreds of drummers out there that are at least at good as Jimmy in their own right who are looking for a band.
I'm looking for to the next Smashing Pumkins recording.

[revue]

Zeitgeist was a great CD. Went to see them live in 2007 they were great.

Looking forward to hearing what Corgan will come up with.

[ebroadcast]

Wow, I guess Billy is the new Axl Rose

[suejester]

Wow when the drummer leaves you have hit rock bottom..

[robXdion]

The problem is no one can stand Corgan. Leaving was probably all the original members could to avoid assault charges.

[ChiGuy]

Sounds like Billy's not enjoying the "rocker-fa­des-to-ret­ro-tour" status very much.
I'm still a fan Mr. Corgan, but you aren't cutting edge any more.

[Anthony Ioannacci]

One of my favorite bands of the past that is no longer itself. You cannot call yourself Smashing Pumpkins when only 1 of 4 still are in the band. Zwan didn't pan out and neither did Billy's solo album. It will be interesting to see what he has to say on the Chris Isaak Show in a couple of weeks.

[americadead]

He should get his old buddy to join the band

http://www.flickr.com/photos/coyote2012/2211525564/

[plaidlemur]

Worst live show I've ever seen. Corgan sounded awful--talked far too often, and for far too long. The show may have been decent if he would have just shut his trap and let the band play, but that would have required him to put his gargantuan ego aside. That wasn't going to happen. Now with none of the original members left except the self-perceived greatest man on earth, I'm sure all the success he deserves is just around the corner...

[missjabez]

I didn't even know SP were still together until recently. Maybe Billy should move on to other projects. I don't see how he's going to recapture SP's former glory.

[MalMNN]

surprised? Billy's made it clear that he's in charge and that things will change- no album or tours done the "normal" way since the tepid reception to ZEITGEIST release. so, what's a drummer to do?

http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2009/03/jimmy-chamberlin-smashing-pumpkins-drummer-leaves-group.html

[shamaniceconomist]

I hope they record something really good.

[spiderbucket]

"They?" :)

[SpaghettyIrish]

Pumpkins had a few songs and no charisma. I hate the sound of Corgan's voice.

[spiderbucket]

Me too although I like a lot of his work. Funny that he uses so much technology to tweak his voice and it sounds not one bit better than their (his) early albums pre-Pro Tools.

[KCFreedom]

I agree that I never cared for his voice anyway, but he sounded especially bad during the show I saw at their "peak" It was horridly hoarse.

It was ~1994 at Lollapalooza in Dallas. During the show, James Iha had a meltdown over "people in the crowd not paying enough attention to him" or something (he started yelling into the mike about it), and he stormed off the stage.

So, end of show.

I never tried to go see them again. Never bought another CD either.

[missjabez]

I agree that his voice is not the best, although it did convey the necessary angst. I really liked SP in the 90s. I still listen to "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness".

[BobABooey]

Sometimes anger makes for good rock.

Just want to say, Jimmy Chamberlain is one of the best drummers in the world.

[alsm9]

Very true.

[DaneAZ]

He's outstanding.