Jimmy Chamberlin Explains Smashing Pumpkins Split, Says He Can’t “Cash The Check”
Days after Rock Daily reported that Jimmy Chamberlin was exiting the Smashing Pumpkins, the drummer took to his official blog to explain his side of the story. “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,” Chamberlin writes. “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.”
The “cash the check” line is especially striking, considering the Smashing Pumpkins have really “sold out” as the kids say in recent years, popping up in plenty of commercials. There’s the Morgan Freeman-narrated Visa commercial featuring “Today,” the Hyundai ad featuring new track “F.O.L.” that aired during the Super Bowl, “That’s the Way (My Love Is)” in a Ford commercial, the Guitar Hero: World Tour exclusive track “G.L.O.W.” Add it all up and the Pumpkins have pretty much become the Yellow Pages. Plus, perhaps Chamberlin further soured on sticking with the band after Corgan testified in Washington, D.C. in favor of the fan-maligned Live Nation Ticketmaster merger.
As for Corgan going all Axl Rose and continuing on as the Smashing Pumpkins, Chamberlin — the Pumpkin who stuck with Billy the longest, even playing in Zwan — says, “My best goes out to Billy and I’m glad he has chosen to continue under the name. It is his right.” Chamberlin adds, “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.” Chamberlin writes that he’ll continue to make music with his Jimmy Chamberlin Complex and other musical interests.
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• Jimmy Chamberlin Leaves Smashing Pumpkins, Corgan Hits the Studio
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• Smashing Pumpkins Mix Elation With Frustration at NYC Anniversary Stop