D’arcy Reveals All About Her Exclusion from Smashing Pumpkins “Reunion”
According to texts from Billy Corgan to D'arcy, James Iha, too, has little or no contribution to new album
As a clock winds down on The Smashing Pumpkins’ website, culminating in, presumably, a Thursday announcement of a “reunion” tour, as well as new music, there remains vagueness about why original bassist D’arcy will have no involvement in any of it.
Last month, D’arcy confirmed to BlastEcho that she was very disappointed that she would not be participating in any sort of reunion with the band and apologized to the fans for her absence.
D’arcy’s reveal somewhat coincided with a steady diet of Instagram updates by Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan that appeared to be about new Pumpkins music from the original band—or, at least, three-fourths of it—with producer Rick Rubin in Los Angeles.
Now it’s come to light that the only original members involved in most of the recording were, in fact, Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, according to text exchanges between D’arcy and Corgan. D’arcy believes Iha contributed to only one song from the sessions, although that hasn’t been confirmed.
Based on a text conversation between D’arcy and Corgan from mid-January, Corgan wrote, “well, so you know, [original guitarist] James [Iha] isn’t here either. It’s me and Jimmy working and [guitarist] Jeff [Schroeder] now too.”
Further, Corgan texted, “James is focused on his stuff, which is why he isn’t here. And, as far as Rubin, he’s gonna be involved a little but not the whole thing.”
D’arcy said she told that the plan had been to record only one new song with Rick Rubin with all of the original members in January, but unbeknownst to her, the plan changed. She only found out about the recording sessions the same way the rest of the world did: Instagram.
According to D’arcy, Corgan reached out to her through texts trying to explain her exclusion and assuage any worries she might have had after having seen the photo of all her bandmates in an L.A. studio together.
Once Corgan went public, he texted her “as far as you not being involved, there was never any decision to shut you out, or make you not welcome. It’s more about getting on the same page with [the] tour first and then the necessity of the song came up.” He further added, “so focus on [the] tour and I think we can find the right way to have you involved. I know speaking with Jimmy, he wants you involved so that the tour is the best thing we can all give the fans and build for the future.”
Though Corgan recently revealed via Instagram that the band has “26 songs currently in various states of production,” the text exchange between Corgan and D’arcy referenced just one new song.
According to D’arcy, they both spoke many times about their shared desire to “be a band again and to do it right this time and have fun with it in a relaxed environment.” Neither wanted to do a typical “reunion tour.” D’arcy says Corgan told her that Iha and Chamberlin had no desire to record a full album, so they would instead record one new song and then tour the following summer.
Expanding on a previous statement D’arcy made to BlastEcho, D’arcy said that Corgan initially made a contract offer to her, Iha and Chamberlin, which was agreed upon by all parties. However, a month later D’arcy says Billy told her “well, that wasn’t a real offer.” It’s unclear whether or not the initial offer remains for Iha and Chamberlin, although D’arcy is under the impression it is.
An explanation as to why the offer was rescinded, too, remains unclear. Cryptically, she said she has an inkling but “that is a whole other can of worms and a big, ugly one! Another time.”
However, after the offer was pulled, she said he said via text that both Iha–who D’arcy has kept in touch with over the past 16 years–and Chamberlin were “with him” on that decision to reunite without her. “I am totally disgusted with James,” she said via text. “He should be ashamed of himself.”
The clock on the Pumpkins’ website is slated to expire on Thursday, at which point new music and the announcement of a tour slated to begin in July will be revealed. In addition to Corgan, Iha and Chamberlin, Schroeder will play guitar with this new incarnation. It’s also believed, but not confirmed, that Jack Bates, who played bass for the Pumpkins in a recent version of the band, will retain the same role going forward.
Nutsack
February 12, 2018 at 1:08 am
Show the messages!
Nutsack
February 12, 2018 at 1:09 am
It’s all about the he said she said CLICK BAIT!
BuzzKiller
February 15, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Texts were released – so you can literally see what “he said, she said”…
https://www.alternativenation.net/smashing-pumpkins-darcy-shares-billy-corgan-guns-n-roses-reunion-offer/
Gus Killington
February 12, 2018 at 8:54 pm
It is true. I’m mean split the money three ways and pay everyone else scale. Not really a reunion. Won’t make Corgan return to his real rock roots like Gish!
rosco
February 13, 2018 at 10:56 am
Got to stay away from heroin.
fred willis
February 13, 2018 at 10:29 am
She’s had major cosmetic surgery OMFG! Her bass playing is pretty simple, they should go ahead and get someone who can actually play well.
Darcy was in the band because she was ‘someone’s’ former girlfriend.
Eric
February 14, 2018 at 10:10 pm
You’re sorely mistaken. D’arcy is actually the only member of the Pumpkins with a classical musical background. She was in the band because she could play bass as well as cello and the violin.
Tim
February 15, 2018 at 6:10 pm
Wtf? If you mean James Iha, they didn’t know each other before she got in the band. Corgan had recruited her before she dated James.
R
February 13, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Come on Corgan! She was part of the Smashing Pumpkins and should be allowed to play during the tour! The fans remember her. Not right, not cool to omit her like that! 🙁
sleepyness
February 15, 2018 at 4:42 pm
At this point, no one cares. The original fans are all in their mid upper 40s, and only interested in VIP tents at festivals with parking.
Oh, and just the hits. No one wants to hear middle aged Billy croaking out his Marilyn Manson fantasies.
No D’arcy? Not the Pumpkins. Ask the Pixies how ticket sales are going….
al
February 16, 2018 at 12:36 am
billy was playing all the bass and guitars in studio others were just doing figuration most of the time played some part sometimes, people that want darcy dont have any idea that this band was billy and the others were just for live performances .
TheTruth
February 22, 2018 at 11:29 am
Don’t waste your hard earned $$ on this thrown together tour. If they are not even on the same page right before announcing the bands back than how do you think the tour will go? Yea, stay away , far away.
janetgracey
February 25, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Thank you so much
shuca
February 27, 2018 at 12:00 am
Blastecho, thanks! And thanks for sharing your great posts every week!
ipfan.info
April 6, 2019 at 7:58 pm
Original Smashing Pumpkins bassist D’Arcy Wretzky will evidently not be playing in the band’s newly reformed lineup, as she revealed in an interview with the website BlastEcho last month. Now, Wretzky has given another interview to the same site, with further details about the reunited band. In it, she claims that Corgan initially made a contract offer to her and original guitarist and drummer James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, but later rescinded the offer.
Reticuli
February 16, 2020 at 2:02 pm
Stay away from lip injections.