Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has revealed why Canadian musician Melissa Auf Der Maur did not play on the band’s reunion project.
The recently-released Shiny And Oh So Bright Vol. 1 is the first album since 2000 to feature Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin.
Auf Der Maur, who played bass in the Smashing Pumpkins on the Machina tour in 1999 and 2000, was replaced with Jack Bates.
“I don’t have any ill will towards Melissa,” Corgan told NME, "but she never considered herself to be part of the unit and made it very clear that she didn’t ever want to be considered part of the unit posthumously.
“It was kind of like, ‘I’ll do this for this window.’”
In September, Auf Der Maur told Stereogum she wasn’t even aware of the Smashing Pumpkins reunion until recently.
“I am not in touch with them,” she said. “But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m happy they’re playing the hits for the diehard fans.”
Auf Der Maur said she couldn’t see her former band’s concert in her hometown Montreal in August because she was out of the country. “Otherwise I would’ve gone to the show,” she said. “I would’ve liked to have seen it.”