The Smashing Pumpkins’ original lineup reunion appears like it could finally be on after two years of rumors following James Iha reuniting with Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin for three performances in 2016. The original Smashing Pumpkins lineup last performed together in 1999. The Pumpkins got to work in Los Angeles on Thursday, with Billy Corgan sharing photos of himself playing with Jimmy Chamberlin.
There haven’t been any photos as of this report though of James Iha and D’arcy Wretzky, but Iha lives in Los Angeles and doesn’t have any A Perfect Circle tour dates until April. Corgan discussed recent conversations he had with D’arcy just a couple of months ago on The Howard Stern Show, and he has frequently said in recent months that he wants the original band to reunite. A fan claimed a couple of months ago that he overheard Jimmy Chamberlin telling someone at a drum clinic that the original Smashing Pumpkins lineup would reunite to record a new album in 2018.
Corgan posted a photo of his guitars in Los Angeles a couple of days ago, “Glad to see my rock and roll guitars have arrived in LA.”
He wrote on Thursday afternoon, “Alas, the vacation is over, and it’s back to work today.”
He also posted a photo of his Big Muff pedal writing, “When is a muff ‘enuff? @ehx #fuzz #bigmuff.”
He later wrote, “Jimmy is here, too…”
Vic Salazar, who used to run a drum shop in Chicago, posted on Facebook that he was shipping Jimmy Chamberlin’s drums to Los Angeles for a ‘very special occasion’ a couple of days ago.
“VIC TO THE RESCUE: When Jimmy Chamberlin of The Smashing Pumpkins needed someone to swing by his home studio to pack up his drums and ship them out to L.A. for a very special upcoming occasion, he knew who to call.
Mission accomplished! Delivered everything to Fort Knox Studios in Chicago, and all of Jimmy’s gear is already on its way to a much warmer climate.
Special thanks to my buddy Nick Kapka for providing the additional flight cases we needed in a pinch. #ToTheRescue #MissionAccomplished.”
“Jimmy’s choice of drums are Sakae’s Almighty Birch series in Vintage White finish. The Almight series features 8-ply bass drum shells, 7-ply floor tom, shells, and 6-ply tom tom shells.”
Salazar later deleted the post.
Corgan did write on Instagram last month, “I’ve also been reworking the ‘Dust and Ruin’ songs from 2000-2002 for re-recording (some, not all) which sets up a future release of the original tapes (recently transferred anew).” Could Billy and Jimmy be re-recording old material?
So are the Pumpkins recording or rehearsing in LA, or both? We will have to wait and see, but an announcement seems imminent.
