Billy Corgan Finishes Solo Album, Announces New Band

Yesterday, Billy Corgan posted a new video to the Smashing Pumpkins’ Facebook page to provide some news on “Impact Wrestling,” which he now co-owns, as Stereogum points out. In addition to the wrestling update, Corgan said he “just sort of finished a new solo album.” He continued, “it’s actually recorded and sort of mostly done.” Corgan says he recorded it in two weeks in California and it has all new songs. He doesn’t have a release date yet, but promises more details in “the near future.”

Corgan added that he, current Pumpkins guitarist Jeff Schroeder, and Jack Bates (who’s played bass with the Pumpkins) are starting a new band. They haven’t figured out a band name yet, but they’ll start working on new music next week. He said that Katie Cole, Sierra Swan, and Linda Strawberry (all of whom have worked with Corgan in the past) will “probably” be involved with the project, as well, and he described the band as “much different from Pumpkins music.”

Finally, Corgan said, “speaking on Pumpkins, there’s some big stuff happening, so we’re making plans.” He teased, “it’s gonna be interesting.” Watch the video below.

Corgan’s latest update follows a year’s worth of Pumpkin reunion-related news. In June 2015, original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin rejoined the band. Then, original guitarist James Iha’s played two shows with the band back in March–his first since 2000. In April, founding bassist D’arcy Wretzky said she would “consider going back” to the band. Shortly after Wretzky’s comments, Corgan wrote in a note to fans that he was “encouraged to hear that she is playing music once more, and writing songs.” He then tempered expectations of an original lineup reunion, but did not rule out the possibility completely: “And as I feel speculation start to swirl about what happens next for SP, I’d like to say quite simply and directly that what matters most to Jeff [Schroeder] and I is the music.”

Comments are closed.