Jeff Schroeder, longtime Smashing Pumpkins guitarist, announces his departure.
The Smashing Pumpkins will have to do without their guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who has announced his departure after 16 years with the group.
In a joint statement, the remaining members of the Smashing Pumpkins thanked Schroeder for his “tireless dedication to the band”: “Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for the friendship he has shown us. He was there for SP in good times and difficult times.”
“One of the best decisions of my life”
Schroeder announced his decision with a post on social media. In it he wrote: “Looking back, it’s easy to say that when I joined the Smashing Pumpkins in 2007, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The opportunity seemed to have come out of nowhere. I was studying at UCLA and working on my doctorate in comparative literature when a close friend wrote to me and said the Smashing Pumpkins were looking for a guitarist. As a huge fan of the band, the audition was something I threw myself into. It was one of the best decisions of my life.”
Jeff Schroeder is taking a new path
Although Schroeder emphasized that he made “incredible memories” during his time in the band, he ultimately decided to take his career in a new direction: “Although it was a very difficult decision, I decided to leave the band , to create space to explore a slightly different path. I want Billy [Corgan]Jimmy [Chamberlin],James [Iha] and Jack [Bates] Thank you for not only being great bandmates, but also even better friends. I’ll miss being on stage with you.”
More about the Smashing Pumpkins
It was recently announced that the Smashing Pumpkins will embark on a US stadium tour with Green Day in 2024, although a full list of dates has not yet been released.
Their record epic ATUM: A ROCK OPERA IN THREE ACTS was released on November 15, 2022 (ACT ONE), January 31, 2023 (ACTO TWO) and May 5, 2023 (ACT THREE). Billy Corgan accompanied the release with a podcast series. It is the Smashing Pumpkins’ twelfth studio album.