Billy Corgan, frontman of the Smashing Pumpkins, has praised former bassist D’Arcy Wretzky, saying her contributions “had a lot to do with the success of the band.”
Wretzky was an original member and played on all of the band’s albums until 2000. She left the band in 1999, after which she and Corgan engaged in a public feud. In past interviews, Corgan described a reunion as “a shitty reality show,” while Wretzky criticized his personality and abilities.
Despite their past disagreements, Corgan spoke positively about Wretzky in a recent video on his Substack account. He said her opinions on the band’s music carried significant weight and that her input helped shape their early success. “So her contribution, kind of spiritually, emotionally, I think had a lot to do with the success of the band,” he said.
Corgan reflected on the original lineup, saying that when the members aligned creatively, it produced “powerful” music. He described the three records made with Wretzky as “very important records” in the band’s history.
Since Wretzky’s departure, the band has had several bassists, including Melissa Auf Der Maur, Ginger Reyes, Nicole Fiorentino, Mark Stoermer, Sierra Swan, and currently, touring bassist Jack Bates, son of Peter Hook.
Next month, the Smashing Pumpkins will release a 30th anniversary deluxe reissue of Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness. The release includes over 80 minutes of unreleased live recordings, a hardbound book, tarot cards, and lithographs. It will be available in multiple formats, including a £398 Super Deluxe edition.
