Jimmy Chamberlin would bring “different stuff” to Smashing Pumpkins album

Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin

Jimmy Chamberlin says he would “bring some really different stuff to the table” if a reunion of the original Smashing Pumpkins lineup was to happen.

The drummer revealed earlier this year that he and Billy Corgan were in talks about the possibility of getting back together with James Iha and D’Arcy Wretzky for possible live shows in 2018.

And earlier this month, Corgan reported that he was open to the idea and said he’d like the lineup to be “creative again.”

Speaking to Rhythm Magazine about his plans following his appearance at The London Drum Show next month, Chamberlin says: “I’m doing a few jazz gigs and I’ve recorded some more music for the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex.

“We reconfigured the band to a straight-ahead quintet and I’m excited about that. I’ll be practising a ton as well. I’m always trying to evolve.”

He adds: “We’re talking about maybe recording next year with the Pumpkins and I want to make sure if that happens, that I bring some really different stuff to the table.

“The purpose of this sabbatical needs to be revealed in the music. I’m counting on everyone bringing some new shit to the table that is representative of the chance-taking that we’ve always done.”

The London Drum Show will take place at London’s Olympia on November 11 and 12 and it will see some of the biggest names in drumming perform on the Main Stage, Masterclass and Education Zone, offering attendees the opportunity for personal Q&A sessions.

Chamberlin will perform on the Main Stage on Sunday and he’ll hold a session on the Education Zone Stage on Saturday.

Tickets are now on sale via the official website. Read the full interview with Chamberlin here.

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Scott Munro
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Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.