3/20/2008

Smashing Pumpkins Ponder Next Move


[Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain onstage in San Francisco, 2007. Photo: Daniel Haier]

Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain will be heading back into the studio in May to work on new Smashing Pumpkins material but an album might not be in the works, according to Chamberlain, in an interview with Spinner.com

"I don't think we will make records again," the drummer explains, pointing out that the band's contractual commitment to Reprise Records is finished. "I look at it like the old business model is dead and the music business doesn't know how to move forward. We want to keep things vital and keep things viable and get our music across while remaining relevant. Music has in many ways just become an advertisement for your tour."

"I think what we'll do is start releasing songs," Chamberlin continues. "The record or CD format places too many limitations on your piece of art. People just don't buy records anymore. Anyone under the age of 24 just buys songs. It's just in our best interest to release blocks of songs. And I think what we'll do--not to let the cat out of the bag too much--is to create the framework where we can release a number of songs and maybe create a title. We can gather three or four songs, but it will all flow up to a larger body of work. But to call it record in the traditional sense would be anachronistic."

Originally posted yesterday, March 19th, the complete interview has since been removed from the Spinner website, which is quite telling, but not surprising considering the bombshell Mr. C is dropping here.

The latest (final?) Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist, has been certified gold (500,000 units sold) and is out now.