Jeff Schroeder was recently photographed playing bass as The Smashing Pumpkins wrapped up three weeks of demo recording sessions at the Village in Los Angeles. Schroeder has also been photographed playing guitar. James Iha was photographed in the studio at the Village last week, but it’s unclear what his involvement is in recording. Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin have been present since recording began earlier this month.
Corgan wrote on Instagram earlier this week, “Last day of doing demos and writing. It’s been super-productive (16 songs worked on), positive, and fun. Has definitely restored my faith and love for this kind of team effort. Kudos to all involved… @chamberdrums @jjjschroeder @howardwilling_thebear #augustusjuppiter #thesecretsinthesauce.”
He later posted, “Ok, make that 17 songs worked on. Thank you Village Recorder, Los Angeles! Our home away from home, where we mixed Mellon Collie, Adore, made much of Zeitgeist, and where I did my demos for Ogilala. @chamberdrums @jjjschroeder @howardwilling_thebear.”
Howard Willing, who was thought to have been producing, then left Los Angeles and returned to Nashville, so it now appears that he was engineering the demo sessions and not producing the actual album recording.
A couple of days ago, the Pumpkins moved to Malibu at Shangri La Recording Studio. Corgan wrote, “Great first day at our new location. Worked on 9 different songs. Made my head spin, but in a good way. No stinkers, I hope.”
Jimmy Chamberlin added, “New studio – same rock power.”
Rick Rubin owns Shangri La, and he produced Billy Corgan’s 2017 solo album Ogilala, so it seems pretty safe to assume that Rubin is producing the new Smashing Pumpkins album, unless he’s just letting them use his studio!
Also, there had previously been confusion as to what these recording sessions were for, and if they might be part of the new double solo album Corgan was recording last month in Nashville. Matt Pinfield tweeted that he recently had dinner with Corgan, and that ‘new Pumpkins music is coming.’
D’arcy Wretzky recently revealed that she was informed that she will not be joining The Smashing Pumpkins for their reunion tour this summer, which she claims will kick off in July and feature Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and a different bass player. It’s unclear what Jeff Schroeder’s role will be, or who will play bass on the road. Wretzky told Blast Echo that she was ‘disappointed’ that she was rejected for the reunion.
