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Billy Corgan says things are looking up

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With the recent departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, frontman Billy Corgan is, for the time being, the de facto Smashing Pumpkins.

Corgan doesn't plan on remaining a one-man band for long, however (he's holding drummer auditions in Los Angeles on 14 April), and to that end, he's posted a thoughtful - and most lengthy - message online. What follows are the highlights:

Billy's message

"Hello from sunny California, where I'm currently working with some of my friends on new SMASHING PUMPKINS songs. The mood here is relaxed, serene, and studious as my pals are helping me with some TLC to zero in on the new direction that I'm trying to take the music.

"When I decided to write and record again under the name the SMASHING PUMPKINS, I committed myself 100 percent" Billy Corgan

"I've made many, many mistakes through the years, and one of them is that I often rush headlong into my next album without really taking the time to reflect on what I've just done, and test my resolve a little on where I'm going."

Why 'Smashing Pumpkins'?

"I'm going to step right into the heat of the matter now and address the infamous 'why?' question. The why being 'why' I have chosen to continue on under the SMASHING PUMPKINS banner considering I am the only remaining original member. The simple answer is that when I decided to write and record again under the name the SMASHING PUMPKINS in 2005, I committed myself 100 percent.

"As they say in No Limit Poker, I'm 'all in.. I'm not going to back out of the challenge in front of me now. I'm absolutely exhilarated by what I see and feel the future to be for SP. There is a difference in how I think and approach a body of work for the PUMPKINS than, say, I would as a solo artist or under any other name.

"Being the near lone songwriter for the PUMPKINS has always made me want to put all the diverse harmonic fragments in my mind together, and it has been an incredible musical journey so far to keep trying to match up to the size of that idea. I truly am not focused on where I've been now as much as where I am going, and I haven't felt that way for a very long time.

"I appreciate that, for many fans, the public part of my musical journey has often been quite confusing...I am at peace now with the idea that SP is worth bringing to life again and again, because the challenge of the band's shadow has inspired some great work. It's also just a name, the SMASHING PUMPKINS (it just rolls off the tongue, don't it??)."

Getting down to business

"So let's get down to business and talk about what the plans are ahead. First up is/are the drum tryouts on April 14. We've received a staggering amount of submissions so far (over 1,000!), so let me say to everyone who has submitted thank you and God bless you for having the courage to throw your name out there.

"First up is/are the drum tryouts on April 14. We've received a staggering amount of submissions so far (over 1,000!)"

"OK, album plans: first off, I still plan on making an album. I know this may contradict with what I've said publicly, but I think I just didn't state what I meant clearly. I meant I don't think I'm going to make albums in the old-fashioned way, meaning 12-15 songs, etc in one small package. My desire at this point would be to release one song at a time, over a period of 2-3 years, with it all adding up to a box set/album of sorts that would also include an art movie of the album. (Sounds like a lot of work, don't it??)