Help wanted! Smashing Pumpkins looking for bassist, keyboardist; Ginger Pooley leaves to spend time with family, Mark Tulin to fill in 2:45 pm // Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Posted by jjb in ginger reyes pooley, lisa harriton, mark tulin, news.trackback
Bassist Ginger Pooley, who played with the Smashing Pumpkins since their revival in 2007, is leaving the group according to a press release. She says in part:
With sorrow and yet with much thankfulness for the opportunity to have played in the Pumpkins, I am sad to say that I can no longer tour with the Pumpkins. Although I’ve been blessed beyond belief over the past few years through playing with the Pumpkins, my priority now is to keep our little family unit together, which includes my husband and my baby. Although I do plan on continuing to do music in different forms, my priority is for neither for my husband nor myself to be apart from our daughter so that we can raise her together.
Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan is quoted in the release as being “heartbroken” over Pooley’s departure but he says respects her decision. Mark Tulin, the Electric Prunes and Spirits in the Sky bassist who has worked on recent Smashing Pumpkins studio material, may “fill in on an interim basis.” Corgan says he will launch a fresh round of auditions to find more help:
We were lucky enough to find drummer Mike Byrne through an open audition process, so why not open the doors again to anyone who might be interested for the bass or keyboard position? As you can see from our past and present, age, race, or a person’s background is not an issue. Everyone is truly welcome to audition.
The press release offers this guidance to aspiring Pumpkins:
Bassists and keyboardists looking to play with The Pumpkins should send their background info (including age, a resume of any bands/recorded work), photos and performance web links via email only, either to pumpkinsbass@gmail.com or pumpkinskeys@gmail.com. Note: only musicians with video clips can be considered. Youtube.com type posts are perfect — that’s how Mike was found. Final date for submission is March 31.
A keyboardist who “can play in the prog-rock style of Jon Lord and Rick Wakeman” is sought to succeed Lisa Harriton, who toured with the Pumpkins alongside Pooley but is (when not backing Adam Lambert or Ke$ha) focusing now on serious jazz music.
That’s sad. I wasn’t a big fan of Ginger’s playing style but I thought she was really lovely. I will also miss Lisa, she’s a really cool and talented lady. This week has sucked regarding pumpkin news, so much bad news all at once. What do you think will happen with the tour? Weren’t they going to start touring in April? Seems like such short notice for everyone to get on board with the tour starting soon.
Jon Lord and Rick Wakeman? OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO down the prog-rock-hole we goooooo!
damnit…I should have learned bass instead of guitar.
This is sad but it is very easy to understand Ginger who just had a baby. You don’t commit half your mind to SP it seems. Better now than later. This is gonna be exciting somehow.
Now if Jeff left, that would be some very very sad news. The 2 girls are easier to replace. Even though Ginger and Lisa were awesome!
that’s too bad, i liked watching ginger play.
Melissa Auf Der Maur? please!
Ugh.
Why must everyone leave?
I agree with Halo. Ginger’s technique wasn’t my cup of tea, but I did think she made a great addition to the Pumpkins.
They were both awesome.
I’ll miss them being in the band.
well, maybe that’s why the press release says that Mark Tulin may fill in. the operative word there is “may”, which might mean they’re still going ahead with the april tour and they’re going to use Mark till they find a replacement? I think a keyboard won’t be as required as the bass so they might tour a few shows without a keyboard?
It’s weird Melissa Auf Der maur’s never seemed to be a real option. However, she said in 2006 that she would join immediately if she was asked to…
Billy wants to have a strong hand on the band. It’s ok if it makes it last longer. Now that Jimmy isn’t there anymore, as long as the musicians are tight, I’m fine!
background unless you are a fundamentally damaged, inherently destructive individual.
pretend that ok was the 2nd word up there plz
I was not really into Ginger ever, but i really liked Lisa. Im really hoping for a return of Melissa. Would just make this seem more complete to me.
That’s very unfortunate. My wife and I really enjoyed Gingers playing and we wish her and the family all the best! Lisa was already busy with other projects so we didn’t think she was ever coming back.
Soltmen
jim derogatis comments on the departure.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2010/03/billy_corgan_parts_with_more_p.html
I had heard about this from somone a few months ago.
I am surprised it just came out. Sounds like Ginger made a good choice.
I have been told conflicting things about why Lisa isn’t avaliable anymore.
The honest trush for me is I hope sp doesn’t end up with more young talent.
SP is a circus already.
hey monte what did you hear? what are the stories?
@adam at one time I heard that it was a money thing for both Ginger and Lisa
I have since ignore that once talking to billy during spirits
As of recemt I had heard that it seemed less likely Ginger wanted to do a tour
And that Lisa was having a lot of tour possibilties this summer (and I bet for some good money)
I had been wondering if Ginger would actually tour since she had her baby. This is sad news but I guess not really unexpected. I will definately miss her playing as I thought she, along with Jeff and Lisa really proved their mettle–they were brilliant with “Gossamer,” for instance. Well, I virtually wish her and family the very best!
I hope things work out really good for Ginger and her family :)
@monteLDS
If Billy knew about this for a while why is he now announcing the auditions when the tour starts in April? Didn’t he say in an interview in February (was it local 101?) that Ginger was on board?
But, when you think about it, the money issues isn’t too big of stretch and is entirely possible. I’ve heard others mention that Billy, to put it nicely, does not usually like to pay as well as others. It doesn’t just include band members but artists, photographers, and videographers. He tends to think that working for SP will benefit their career and therefore the lower money would be an even tradeoff. Interesting thinking but it normally does not work like that, not in this case at least. I remember reading on Eric Avery’s site (when it was rumoured that he would be the new bassist) that he did not join because he felt he was not getting a fair amount of money. Lisa is certainly going to get more exposure and money with the current tours she has lined up and the money may not be enough to keep Ginger away from her family.
I have to admit, it will be kind of weird seeing Mark Tulin and Mike Byrne with Billy doing an SP show. It’s kind of like spirits in the sky, I guess. I suppose it won’t be too weird if they never play old SP songs like Billy said. Regardless, I wish the best of luck to Ginger and Lisa.
the question of melissa came up a few years ago, i think before ginger was announced as joining the lineup, and i believe melissa said that she was really focusing on her own stuff.
in fact i think kerry retweeted a recent tweet from melissa telling him just that.
Going to miss Ginger<3 She was really a great personality for SP.I remember when she first came on board SP,she got a lot bashing from fan's.I left quiet a few encouraging comments to her on her myspace.She going really be missed….good lucky to her with her new baby.
@halo
i’m pretty sure Eric Avery said Billy never paid for his time in the studios working on some Zeitgeist demos.
Alright, Agnew, now’s your chance…
Sigh.
Really wish the whole reunion/”revival” had played out differently. Much differently.
Damn, thats too bad about Melissa. Not too late for Darcy? lol
@ halo / Monte: From memory, Ginger did an interview in late 2007 or early 2008. Even here she was saying how uncertain the future was because of the type of contract she was under. (I’m sorry, but I don’t remember the name of the magazine it appeared in.)
The way in which Lisa’s reasons for leaving the band are not mentioned in the official press release is unfortunate, but also somewhat typical of the habit SP have adopted of leaving people in the dark (as with James and D’arcy when the band reformed and several other issues fans have raised since.)
It seems clear to me that the fact that she just had a baby explains quite everything. I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it would have been for both the parents to go on world tours with their respective bands. I’m not surprised. For once, maybe we could just not look too far and try to find hidden reasons. It seems totally fair that way.
@Vaughn, i’m pretty sure the whole Lisa thing was announced long ago, or was hinted at, I think it was one of those postings Billy made, saying she has moved on or whatever.
Stacy — LOL. Is there video evidence of him playing? It’s a requisite, so I will insist on seeing it first.
Cool, I just learned that Melissa will be interviewed at “Tout le monde en parle” this sunday here in Montréal, Québec. I wonder if the interviewer will know and ask about the vacancy of the bassist role in SP.
StudioDog tweeted with MADM about her upcoming Los Angeles show – basically saying “See you at the show!” – so I’m sure if she had any interest in taking the bass position it has been discussed (or will be discussed). Remember famous people can participate in the tryouts (i.e. System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan)
@Stace/Jill
Margh- my feed was broken, so I didn’t see this until yesterday. Too bad I never got around to buying a piano again, like I’ve been meaning to do for the last 3 years. T_T; I kinda doubt they want someone who’s basically >10 years out of practice. Although there -might- be a link to me playing keys for an X Japan session (don’t know if that was taped/uploaded, though).
@34
Too bad the wedding video didn’t ever materialize… ;)
They found their bassist!
This is sad=[.Im going to miss Ginger in the band, shes an amazing bassists.But its good she put her family first.
This is sad=[.Im going to miss Ginger in the band, shes an amazing bassists.But its good she put her family first,
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[...] Pumpkins have been looking for a new bassist since March, when it was announced that Ginger Pooley had left the [...]