Photo: Ginger Pooley performs with The Smashing Pumpkins at the Orange Peel, Asheville, North Carolina, 2007 / photo by Many Highways
Ginger Pooley (formerly Ginger Reyes), who toured with The Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 and 2008, has announced that she will leave the band to have more time for her family. At the same time, frontman Billy Corgan has announced that he will hold auditions for a new bass player as well as a new keyboardist.
Those who wish to audition can email their age, resume of recorded works or work with bands, photos, and links to performance videos by email to pumpkinsbass@gmail.com or pumpkinskeys@gmail.com by March 31.
Video: Ginger Pooley performs “The Aeroplane Flies High” with the Smashing Pumpkins at the Orange Peel, Asheville, North Carolina, 2007
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The Smashing Pumpkins - The Aeroplane Flies High [MP3]
Statement from Ginger Pooley:
With sorrow and yet with much thankfulness for the opportunity to have played in the Pumpkins, I am sad to say that I can no longer tour with the Pumpkins.
Although I’ve been blessed beyond belief over the past few years through playing with the Pumpkins, my priority now is to keep our little family unit together, which includes my husband and my baby.
Although I do plan on continuing to do music in different forms, my priority is for neither for my husband nor myself to be apart from our daughter so that we can raise her together.
I wish Billy all the best and look forward to seeing the Pumpkins in the near future. I would also like to thank all of the Pumpkins fans for all of their support. I will see you at the Pumpkins shows!
Statement from Billy Corgan:
Although I am heartbroken that Ginger is leaving the group, I really respect her decision to put her family first. I appreciate everything that she has contributed to the Smashing Pumpkins, and I’m proud of her for being such a great musician and friend.
We were lucky enough to find drummer Mike Byrne through an open audition process, so why not open the doors again to anyone who might be interested for the bass or keyboard position.
As you can see from our past and present, age, race, or a person’s background is not an issue. Everyone is truly welcome to audition.
