Music
20 Greatest Comebacks in Heavy-Music History
These artists shook the world by rising from the ashes
Last weekend, Smashing Pumpkins posted a mysterious countdown clock to their website, slated to hit zero tomorrow, February 15th, at noon Eastern. It's thought to be connected to a reunion, largely due to in-studio photos showing frontman Billy Corgan in the studio with guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin (both of the band's original lineup). Bassist D'Arcy Wretzky did not appear in the photo, leading fans to speculate that she would not be a part of the reunion.
Wretzky appeared to confirm her exclusion in a subsequent interview with BlastEcho, calling it "a huge disappointment." In response, Smashing Pumpkins issued a statement claiming the bassist had "always deferred" repeated invitations to perform with the group. Now, Wretzky is firing back at her former bandmates' claims, in a new interview with Alternative Nation, saying that Corgan did no such thing. "Billy demands 150% loyalty from everyone, but gives none," she said at one point.
"[Corgan] has been telling people, 'Well, [The Smashing Pumpkins] haven't played with [Wretzky] at all in 18 years' – Right, dumbass, because then it wouldn't be a reunion!" she told Alternative Nation. "He says that he's invited me to come out and play for all of these things, which is a complete lie: he's never invited me to anything," she concluded.
Wretzky went on to add that she'd made attempts to reconnect with Corgan during his tour behind Ogilada, the frontman's solo album released last fall.
"In fact," she said, "my feelings were a little bit hurt because he did the solo album tour, and he didn't tell me when it started. I was texting him saying, 'Where the fuck are you, dumbass?' He's like, 'Oh, I'm in New York. The tour started.' Then I'm like, 'Where are you?' 'Oh, the tour ended, you missed it.' He thinks it's a privilege for anyone to be in his presence, so therefore, he shouldn't have to tell me, and I shouldn't have to be invited."
Later, Wretzky gives her thoughts on Corgan's newfound penchant for discussing conspiracy theories and purported paranormal encounters. "I just was so out of that world for the longest time, I wasn't aware of a lot of the crazy stuff, like [that] he supports Trump – what?" the bassist says. "The shapeshifting thing, I honestly think he may have a brain tumor. He's always been insufferable."
Elsewhere in the interview, Wretzky discussed the possibility of solo material, her relationships with James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain, her thoughts on Smashing Pumpkins' recent albums, and more. Read it here.
