Stereo

More Smashing Pumpkins news. Buddyhead reported (or rather rumored) the 2 other members to replace James Iha and D’arcy. Here’s the excerpt:

Ok, now let’s talk some more about 90’s bands getting “back together”. “Smashing Pumpkins” are putting out a new record and playing some festivals this summer. The only thing is, what makes this any different than that Zwan bullshit we already endured? Same idea… bald vampire lookin whiner/singer dweeb with the 9-foot tall smack addict hippy drummer and a bunch of “other dudes”. The sketchiest part about this whole “reunion” thing though, is how the Pumpkins camp isn’t being too eager to announce who the two “not James Iha and D’arcy” people are. In case ya were wondering, the new bass player happens to be Ginger Reyes (formerly of the Halo Friendlies) and the guitar player is a dude named Jeff Schroeder (he used to be in some dorky Silverlake band called The Lassie Foundation). Siiiiiick dudes, real exciting! They originally tried out Eric Avery, but Billy didn’t think he could “keep up”. By the way, Bill… are you ever gonna admit that you and Courtney Love were banging when she was married to Kurt Cobain, and that this probably had more than just a smidge to do with homeboy checkin’ out early? Or is that one yer takin’ to the grave? C’mon dude… its like OJ still claiming his innocence. We all know the deal. Just fess up so us grunge babies can move on.

Another female bassist? Billy sure has a thing for chic bassist.

And finally, to all you Iha fangirls:

Eww.

“No, I’m not part of the current Smashing Pumpkins album or tour, I haven’t spoken to Billy (Corgan) in years,” Iha told Rolling Stone.

“I’m writing for a solo record, which I’m going to record this year, and working on my indie label Scratchie Records,” he said.

Copied and pasted from NME.com. I guess that confirms it all. No surprises. When is D’arcy coming out from that plastic face of her’s?

The words are in, The Smashing Pumpkins are in the recording studio to work on their comeback album. Roy Thomas Baker, who had produced on Queen’s A Night at the Opera (with the classic Bohemian Rhapsody) and bands like The Cars, Cheap Tricks, Journey and more recently The Darkness, will now have the Pumpkins on his impressive resume. Legendary stuff.

The reunited Pumpkins is still a 2-man band, with frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. There have been no news of James Iha and D’arcy rejoining the band, though Melissa Auf der Maur has offered her bass work if needed.

The Pumpkins will be managed by Irving Azoff, who also works with Justin Timberlake (WTF??), Christina Aguilera (WTF???) and the Eagles. There is no release date or an album name out yet.

News sourced from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and more here.

Did a little catching up on the music weblogs I linked, which I have been neglecting of late. Other than the tons of great MP3s, news (someone buy me a tix to California please!!!), reviews and whatnots, a few interesting videos were put up as well. Note: This probably gonna be a pimping post for Stereogum since all the vid clips are from there.

Video #1 - Lisa Loeb in a Thong

Everyone knows the song Stay (I Missed You). Now see her in a thong. At 37 years old, she still looks adorably girl-next-door cute. And she is looking for a partner in her new reality tv show (which where the thong came in). Oh, do check out the new mix of the song Stay, from Reality Bites: 10th Anniversary Edition. Get the MP3 on the same page.

Video #2 - Cat Power rapping The Real Slim Shady

Not really into the rap song, but Cat Power has been gaining buzz for her Greatest album. I was kinda bewildered to see Cat Power (or Chan Marshall) so engrossed into the karaoke session, it’s almost as if she’s auditioning for a contest.

Video #3 - Billy Corgan in ECW. Linked from here.

At 6′3″ (1.9 meters) tall, weighing around 200lbs (90kg), bald and a guitar at hand, Billy Corgan could (almost) make a career in sports entertainment. But his ‘meanie’ look kinda put me off. And that victory pose… I would rather see Corgan resume his music career, and get his goddamn band back.

Now, what am I suppose to do for the rest of the holidays?