Smashing Pumpkins Announce New Bassist

In early March frontman Billy Corgan put out the call for a new bassist and keyboardist through an open audition process. Interested musicians were encouraged to e-mail resumes with background information, photos and performance links.

Fiorentino’s resume includes work in bands such as Veruca Salt, Spinnerette, Radio Vago, Twilight Sleep and Light FM. Corgan shared the stage with Light FM in November as part of the Jam For Laura Ann show. Proceeds from the benefit concert went towards Laura Masura, the former head of the Smashing Pumpkins fan club who suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident.

The bassist replaces Ginger Pooley who toured with the Pumpkins from 2007-2008 and left the group to raise her new baby. Fiorentino will join the band on tour later this year. The Pumpkins, which last toured in December 2008, have promised they will soon announce a world tour including dates in the U.S.

Two shows have been booked so far – performances at two Summersonic festivals in Japan including Chiba Marine Stadium in Tokyo (Aug. 7) and Maishima Arena in Osaka (Aug. 8).

The Pumpkins have not yet revealed its new keyboardist. Corgan previously said he was looking for a musician who “is a fan of – and can play in the prog-rock style of Jon Lord and Rick Wakeman.”

Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin parted ways with the Pumpkins in March 2009, leaving Corgan as the only original member in the band. After receiving over 1,000 submissions to fill Chamberlin’s shoes, the Pumpkins held auditions in Los Angeles and settled on 19-year-old drummer Mike Byrne.

According to the Pumpkins’ MySpace page, the band currently also includes guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

The Pumpkings recently posted  “Astral Planes” as a free download on its site. The tune is the fourth of 44 new songs the Pumpkins are recording and releasing for free as part of the band’s new project, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.  The band plans on releasing one song at a time culminating in 11 limited edition EPs that each feature four songs.

The first EP, Teargarden By Kaleidyscope Vol. 1: Songs For A Sailor, will hit record stores May 25 through Martha’s Music/Rocket Science Ventures. According to the band’s website, the limited edition collector’s set will be packaged in a silk-screened wooden box and include a 4-song CD, a vinyl 7” and a “a hand-carved obelisk from the shadows of the Incan ruins in Machu Picchu.”
 
Click here for the Smashing Pumpkins’ official website.