Billy Corgan has appeared to react for the first time to D’arcy Wretzky’s absence from The Smashing Pumpkins reunion in a new Instagram post. Wretzky recently told Blast Echo that she was ‘disappointed’ to be informed she wouldn’t be part of the reunion. Without naming her by name, Corgan appears to credit bandmate James Iha for actually playing a lot of bass on MACHINA/The Machines of God, and himself for playing bass on “Today.”
He also seems to indicate that the band will hire a touring bassist, and that Jeff Schroeder will not be moving over to bass. The only other time in Corgan’s career that he has played with three guitarists is his short lived 2000’s supergroup Zwan. Photos leaked on Sunday from a photoshoot confirming the Pumpkins reunion lineup as being Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and Jeff Schroeder.
“What a weekend! Saturday, I was high in the hills of Topanga, overlooking the ocean on a beautiful sunny day, and according to some reports (based on photos taken or leaked) I am now a bassist. I mean, yes, I have played bass on many of your fave songs but I’m not sure I can play bass AND sing at the same time? But perhaps I can try *someday*. Other reports have @jjjschroeder (who just celebrated a birthday) as a budding bassist.
Which is interesting, because though Jeff doesn’t mind plucking at 4 strings if needed I know he would much prefer the dulcet tones of 6 (but I have heard him confess that 7 strings is just ‘too much’) @jamesihaofficial on the other hand, well, I haven’t seen him pick up a bass since Machina (which he played a fair share on, despite reports claiming a certain ‘flaxen Saxxon’ did; and as you know with much that is written is patently f-a-l-s-e). Which brings me back to my time in the hills of Topanga, dressed in a long coat, staring out into the ocean dreaming of a future not yet realized.
Wisdom here dictates that I share something I have said many times as of late, which is: be here now, live in the present. There truly is no past (but that which lives in your mind), and the future too is but a dream. So kindly, truly, embrace the life you are living TODAY Which reminds me of a song that I also played bass on… #WPC #becarefulwhatyouwishfor (tattoo courtesy of @sir.cophagus.”
Another photo has also surfaced from the photoshoot, a closeup of Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha.
