5.3 The keyboard/drummer events (Smashing Pumpkins)
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This article is from the Smashing Pumpkins FAQ, by Mike Hamilton michaelh@ualberta.ca with numerous contributions by others.
5.3 The keyboard/drummer events (Smashing Pumpkins)
In the summer of '95, the Chicago Reader ran an ad by the Pumpkins,
seeking a touring keyboardist. 5-minute tape auditions (with a "please,
no pumpkins songs" condition) were to be turned in by July 14th. On
August 18, Entertainment Weekly ran the following:
"...aspiring Pumpkins needn't wait by the phone. Two months later, a
refrigerator box full of cassettes graces Chicago's Soundworks studios,
and there's not a listening station in sight. 'We've been too busy to
deal with them,' says Iha. 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of wack
keyboard players. It sounds like a nightmare to me.'"
The position was filled by Jonathan Melvoin, who played keyboards and
acted as a second drummer for Silverfuck. He also appeared with SP on
the American Music Awards.
On July 12, 1996, Jonathan was found dead from a heroin overdose. He and
drummer Jimmy Chamberlin had shot up the previous night, and Jimmy awoke
to find Jonathan dead. Jimmy was charged with misdemeanor heroin
possession, and the rest of the band were taken in for questioning, and
later released. All tour dates through July 27th were postponed. A few
days later, the band released a statement saying that Jimmy would no
longer be the band's drummer.
Private/closed auditions were held a while later to find a replacement
drummer for the remainder of the tour. Matt Walker, former touring
drummer for Filter, took over. While auditioning for Filter, he
reportedly dropped a drumstick and finished with one- he was hired
immediately. Dennis Flemion, founding member and drummer/keyboardist of
The Frogs, was chosen to be the replacement keyboardist. A press release
was issued on August 8th. The band played a surprise warmup show at the
Metro on August 23rd with the two new touring members, and resumed the
MCIS tour after that.
During the recording of Adore, SP used several drummers, including
Joey Waronker (Beck), Matt Walker (MCIS tour, Cupcake), and Matt
Cameron (Soundgarden). Drum machine programming was done by Bon
Harris of Nitzer Ebb.
For the recent Adore tour, the band hired a decent-sized backup band
that consists of drummer Kenny Aronoff, keyboardist Mike Garson, and
percussionists Stephen Hodges and Dan Morris.
Recently, Rolling Stone and Mtv reported that Jimmy was back with the
band, recording a new album. However, Virgin Records has not yet issued
an official press release regarding the issue. When and if this does
happen, it will no doubt be posted to Listessa and the newsgroup, as well
as most websites. (See section 1.1 above).
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