Jimmy Chamberlin Leaves Pumpkins

03/23/09 11:15am

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has left the band once again.

No reason was given for Chamberlin's departure, which was announced late on Friday. This means frontman Billy Corgan is the band's only original member. "I am one" appears to be a prophetic line for Corgan.

Corgan will "continue to write and record as Smashing Pumpkins," according to a statement on the band's website, and will reportedly begin working on new material in the studio this spring.

Chamberlin joined the Smashing Pumpkins in 1988 and drummed on every Pumpkins album with the exception of 1998's Adore. The drummer, who struggled with substance abuse throughout the early '90s, was booted from the Pumpkins in 1996 after he and touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin overdosed on heroin and Melvoin died.

Chamberlin rejoined the Smashing Pumpkins in 1998. He toured and played on their albums until their first breakup in 2000. He would later form Zwan, the short-lived supergroup featuring Corgan, A Perfect Circle bassist Paz Lenchantin, Chavez singer/guitarist Matt Sweeney and former Slint guitarist David Pajo.

After Zwan tanked, Corgan and Chamberlin reformed the Smashing Pumpkins in 2006 and released a new album, Zeitgeist, a year later. Chamberlin most recently accompanied Corgan on the Smashing Pumpkins' 20th anniversary tour last year.

Late last year, Corgan announced the Smashing Pumpkins would never record another album and would only record singles in the future.