Smashing Pumpkins recent reunion without original bass player D’arcy Wretzky earned the scorn of D’arcy is a recent post by her but the band says she was invited to join and failed to take them up on the offer.
In a statement Smashing Pumpkins founding members James Iha, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain explained:
In reuniting The Smashing Pumpkins, the band’s dedication remains to its fans and its music. To that, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and William Corgan haven’t played a show with D’arcy Wretzky for over 18 years. But it’s not for a lack of trying. For despite reports, Ms. Wretzky has repeatedly been invited out to play with the group, participate in demo sessions, or at the very least, meet face-to-face, and in each and every instance she always deferred. We wish her all the best, and look forward to reconnecting with you all very soon.
My apologies to all of the Smashing Pumpkins fans out there who are excited about this oncoming reunion tour of the original members of the band. I know this is a huge disappointment for me, as well, but it’s not going to happen [with me].
I only just found about yesterday that the band has decided to go with a different bass player.
Wretzky and Corgan haven’t been friends for a longtime. In 2004 Billy called D’arcy “a mean-spirited drug addict”.
Corgan, Chamberlain and Iha are currently working on their first album together since 2000’s ‘Machina’ albums.
