Billy Corgan recently praised Smashing Pumpkins’ newest guitarist Kiki Wong. He acknowledged her superior technical abilities in an interview with Guitar World.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman specifically highlighted Wong’s downstroke technique. He compared her skills to legendary metal guitarists and admitted it’s beyond his own capabilities.
“Kiki came in and played very well. She wasn’t trying to be someone else. She wasn’t trying to be a flatterer. She was just herself,” Corgan said. “And it was like, ‘OK, this person can hang in our world.’ After that, for the next three hours, nobody who followed Kiki could beat her. She was still on my mind, even though we weren’t discussing it internally.”
Corgan went on to explain the specific technique that impressed him most about Wong’s playing.
“She’s got that James Hetfield/Kerry King downstroke thing that I could never do, whatever the fuck that is,” he continued. “That Master of Puppets thing – I have to cheat that shit. Trust me, I knew Johnny Ramone, and he was a big proponent of this.”
The musician emphasized the importance of the all-downstroke technique in metal and punk guitar playing.
“Obviously, Hetfield and Kerry King would tell you the same. So would Mustaine. The only way to play that way is you gotta do all downstrokes,” Corgan explained. “I remember being at Johnny Ramone’s house – ‘all downstrokes, all downstrokes.’ There’s a belief that the attack of the downstroke is better than if you pick up-down, up-down. To me, when I see somebody who can do that with the downstrokes, I’m like, ‘Fuck, I can’t do that!'”
Wong’s journey to joining the Smashing Pumpkins represents a remarkable turnaround in her career trajectory. It showcases the power of perseverance in the music industry.
Guitar World reported that Wong had almost given up on big-time success before landing the Smashing Pumpkins gig. This was despite her massive social media following. Her resilience in the face of industry challenges became a defining characteristic of her approach to music.
“My biggest advice is to accept failure like it is your best friend,” Wong told Guitar World. She reflected on her journey through the difficult music business. This philosophy of embracing setbacks as learning opportunities helped her maintain focus during the competitive audition process.
Wong was selected from over 10,000 applicants to join the band. This was a testament to both her technical skills and her authentic approach to performance. WTOP noted that her selection marked a significant moment for representation in rock music. She became one of the few Asian-American women in a major rock band.
Beyond her technical prowess with downstroke techniques, Wong has also impressed with her tone crafting abilities. Various performance videos showed that she has developed a distinctive sound using specialized gear. This delivers the raw grit and ferocity heard in Smashing Pumpkins’ recent performances. It further cements her role as a powerful addition to the band’s lineup.
