BILLY CORGAN: How TOMMY LEE Came To Be Involved With New SMASHING PUMPKINS Album

May 9, 2014

SMASHING PUMPKINS mainman Billy Corgan recently recruited MÖTLEY CRÜE's Tommy Lee to lay down the drum tracks on all nine songs that will appear on SMASHING PUMPKINS' new album, "Monuments To An Elegy", tentatively due in 2015.

It is not presently clear if drummer Mike Byrne, who joined SMASHING PUMPKINS in 2009, is still a member of the band.

Corgan explained how Tommy Lee came to be involved with SMASHING PUMPKINS' new studio album in the following statement:

"The notion to reach out to [Tommy Lee] came from The Shredder [SMASHING PUMPKINS guitarist Jeff Schroeder], who, in hearing me say ‘we really need to get someone like Tommy to play on this song,' said, 'Well, why don't we reach out to him?'

"And let me tell you something: I've had the fortune of being in the room with some of the all-time greats, and when you're that close to someone who is the best at what they do you gain insight into the way they are able to communicate to so many. Let's call it a universal language (which music is, obviously),and in applying it with heart/soul they present intangibles that give dimension and depth to a composition which otherwise would not be as kaleidoscopic.

"So on flying out a few weeks ago I presented [Tommy Lee] with the idea, played him all the songs that I'd worked hard to finish, and discussed the way we'd be most comfortable finding common ground in the studio. Which explains the rush to prepare the arrangements for him to drum on, and also our keeping the work under wraps; so that nothing and nobody could influence the process.

"I'm also happy to report that not only did we have a blast, but the nine 'Monuments' songs sound epic in a way that is indescribable. I guess I could toss off hyperbole after pronoun, but it would sell short what I like to call 'Supersonic Pumpkins,' which is a descriptor in itself.

"Tommy hits the drums in a crushing manner, but as many fans know, this is not without nuance or reaction; as he has a fantastic ear for music and plays with the songs in a means that only enhances excitement. The only other place I've heard this phenomena is with John Bonham of LED ZEPPELIN: where heavy drums can sound soft and expressive. Good company indeed!

"As for the connection, I first met Tommy way back in 1991 when he came to one of our shows, and through the years we've run into each other many times at various places. So the coupling is not as odd as some might assume, as he, like I, has pushed into embracing new technologies, electronics, etc., where it pertains to making new sounds. He is a wonderful, warm person to be around, and I wouldn't have come to him with this proposition if I didn't trust that this was something we'd both be proud of. So we expect to finish up the drums in a few weeks, seeing as we're in a rush to get this stuff out, and oh, yeah, Tommy's got this mega-CRÜE tour to do.

"Let me also add on a personal and public level that I'm truly excited, for there's an excitement in the music that is vital and necessary; especially when you consider what's dying on the vine out there. I believe this is soul music we're making, and I'm proud of who I'm stuck in the foxhole with. Attack, attack, attack…"

Corgan recently announced that he plans to complete the recording of two new PUMPKINS albums, "Monuments To An Elegy" and "Day For Night", by August 15.

"Monuments To An Elegy" will come first, with Corgan writing about the sound of the new disc, "Think guitars, guitars and more guitars."

Corgan also revealed the tentative track listing for "Monuments To An Elegy". It is as follows (all titles subject to change):

* Being Beige (World's On Fire)
* Anti-Hero
* Tiberius
* Run To Me
* One And All
* Drum And Fife
* Dorian
* Monuments
* Anaise

"Monuments To An Elegy" is being produced by Howard Willing, who first worked with SMASHING PUMPKINS during the "Adore" sessions

The PUMPKINS released their last studio album in 2012: "Oceania", which entered The Billboard 200 chart at No. 4, earned the No. 1 spot on the Independent Albums chart and garnered vast critical acclaim.

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