They say time heals all wounds, and no grudges can last a lifetime, which is exactly the case with Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins’ original bassist D’arcy Wretzky.
Billy Corgan Has Great Things to Say About D’arcy Wretzky
While speaking in a recent Substack video, Billy Corgan discussed former bassist D’arcy Wretzky, even though they had their latest public falling out in 2018 after a failed attempt to reunite. Corgan said that even though their split wasn’t great, he still respects her and her role in the band. He even took accountability for his own role in their public feud.
Corgan explained that D’arcy had a strong sense of what helped or hurt the band. Among all the members, her opinion often mattered the most. He said her energy was a big reason why the band was so successful. With Corgan’s complimentary remarks, there is a new glimmer of hope to see the original Smashing Pumpkins lineup finally reunite. Alternative Nation transcribed Corgan’s remarks.
“You know, I don’t often speak on D’arcy’s contribution, because obviously what went down a few years ago didn’t leave either one of us in the best light. But, I’ve said it before, and I have no problem saying it again.
D’arcy had a way of kind of letting it be known—stuff that she thought was moving the band forward, or moving the band laterally, or moving the band backwards. And probably, of the four of us, her opinion about those types of things carried more weight.
So her contribution, kind of spiritually, emotionally—I think had a lot to do with the success of the band. So again, I would never take that away from her, because I really did respect her musical opinion.
We managed to disagree about everything else, but in music, when we would align, it was powerful. And I think that’s what makes a great band, when the four contributing factors of a band can come together.
And at least for that lineup—the OG lineup—the three records we made, I mean, two of the three records turned out to be very important records. So that’s something I always hold [dear].
It’s a shame there wasn’t more of it, and we certainly did try again in ’99 [on MACHINA]. But I mean, I guess in a musician’s life, nothing is truly linear.”
To better understand Billy Corgan and D’arcy Wretzky’s rocky relationship, we can look back at D’arcy’s 2018 interview with Alternative Nation. This happened soon after it was announced that she wouldn’t be part of The Smashing Pumpkins’ reunion with Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and Jeff Schroeder. With Corgan’s new positive remarks though, fans are hopeful that Corgan and D’arcy’s burned bridge can be rebuilt.
