SmashingPumpkins.com announced the departure of Jimmy Chamberlin, the only remaining member of the original line-up other than Corgan. Corgan is going to continue to release material under the SP moniker, and will be heading into the studio this Spring. Here’s what Chamberlin had to say about the split:
By now you have heard the news of my departure from the Smashing Pumpkins. I will say, without going into any unnecessary details that this represents a positive move forward for me. I can no longer commit all of my energy into something that I don’t fully possess. I won’t pretend I’m into something I’m not. I won’t do it to myself, you the fan, or my former partner. I can’t just, “Cash the check” so to speak. Music is my life. It is sacred. It deserves the highest commitment at every level and the Pumpkins are certainly no different. I’m sorry but it really IS that simple. There is no drama, bad blood, or anything else but a full commitment to music. My best goes out to Billy and I’m glad he has chosen to continue under the name. It is his right. I will continue to make music with the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex as well as pursuing other musical interests. I feel that I have a long way to go and a lot to give. Thanks to everyone for your kind words and support through all of this. I am constantly humbled by all of you! It is an honor and a privilege to play music for a living and I don’t take it for granted not even for a second.
Stay tuned……. JC
And here I was, thinking they had chosen their Twitter username SmashingPumpkin because the full name was too long.
Really surprising.
Jimmy’s an intelligent man and a FAN-flippin’-TASTIC drummer but I always viewed him as the loyal dog following Billy Corgan around (with his tail between his legs, even, when he returned in 2000). I sort of expected the Corgan/Chamberlin “hetero-life-musicianship” to last well on into the second dissolving of the Great Pumpkins.
Speculative and dumb thought: Jimmy’s departing simply because the Smashing Pumpkins aren’t as successful as they once were and that he, Billy, and EVERYONE thought/hoped they might be upon returning. How long would you be willing to put time and effort into something that’s not receiving as much attention as you’d like when you there’s unexplored potential with another project? I hate to see the Smashing Pumpkins become Nine Inch Nails: A recognizable front man & a shell of a band comprised of studio and touring musicians that mean nothing to me and have no real identity. Eh, we’ll see.
And, really, WHO believes him when he says “There is no drama, bad blood, or anything else…” I know I don’t! That’s just like someone saying “Trust Me” when they’re clearly not trustworthy… Why bother saying anything to that effect? If there was truly nothing going on the thought would not have come to mind.
Anyway! That’s my dime.
Posted by Megan on March 25th, 2009.