Expert: Jason Musgrove - 7/21/2004

Question
Hi, I have become a huge SP fan in the past few months, since i was too young to appreciate it back in the 90's (i still knew who they were and all, i was more into the pop scene back then.)
anyways, i juts have a few questions that you could hopefully answer...
1.) On The Machina CD who is playing bass? D'arcy or Melissa?
2.) i have heared that billy is coming out with a solo CD. Do you know it's release date? also, what genre of rock to expect? do you know anything else about it?
3.)what are the rest of them up to these days?

thanks very much!

Answer
Hey Jo,

Sorry about the late response! :(

1) This is a very good question.  D'arcy was the one that worked on Machina, but there were rumors that D'arcy didnt actually do a whole lot of work.  It was near the end of recording Machina that D'arcy left the band, in September of 99.  Melissa wasnt actually hired until November that year, and it was mainly to play bass on the Pumpkins promo tours.  What weve come to learn is that most of the songs from Machina had been written already and were being played in these tours, though eventually "70%" (Billys statement) of the Machina songs were changed slightly for the album.  Whether Melissa played bass for any part of any Machina song for the official recording is unclear, but my Machina liner notes list D'arcy as the bassist.  My best guess, which is all I can give, since Billy had been pretty hush-hush about the whole D'arcy incident, is that all the songs were recorded and the majority of changes made after D'arcy left were in the production side of the album, which would have all been done by Billy.  Thats the best I can give you.

2) Billy is working on a solo CD, but no official release date has been set yet.  Billy's latest message from www.billycorgan.com is that he has 60 days to finish recording.  That was dated on July 15th.  So it looks like a fall release.  As far as the albums sound, here is a statement from Billy:  

"I don't want to talk about exactly what I'm doing because then everybody will think they know what it's going to be," he says. "I can honestly say that I feel it sounds pretty different -- not just different from what I've done, but different from everything that's out there. And I'd rather work on the element of surprise on this one."

I know nothing else about the album, but Billy is also selling a book of his poetry to be released in October this year called "Blinking with Fists", and it is 'supposed' to coincide with the album release, so you never know.

3) James Iha joined the band A Perfect Circle, as you may know, but while Maynard is working with Tool, James with be busy with Scratchie Records, his label that he shares with D'arcy.

D'arcy is still MIA following being charged in 2000 for cocaine possession.  Its been stated that shes been seen eating lunch with James a few years back, but Ive heard nothing since.

And I havent heard anything about Jimmy or Melissa.

Again, sorry it took so long to respond, hope you have a great summer.

Check out www.billycorgan.com for more info on Billys new record as the release date nears.

Jason