Billy Corgan recently shared a rare and positive statement about ex-Smashing Pumpkins bassist D’Arcy Wretzky, despite their well-documented public feud. The comments were made in a post on Billy Corgan’s Substack.
Corgan reflected on Wretzky’s significant contribution to the band’s success, acknowledging her influence on the group’s creative direction.
“You know, I don’t often speak on D’Arcy’s contribution, because obviously what went down a few years ago didn’t leave either one of us in the best light,” he said. “But, I’ve said it before, and I have no problem saying it again. D’Arcy had a way of kind of letting it be known – stuff that she thought was moving the band forward, or moving the band laterally, or moving the band backwards. And probably, of the four of us, her opinion about those types of things carried more weight.”
Corgan emphasized the emotional and spiritual impact Wretzky had on the band’s trajectory.
“So her contribution, kind of spiritually, emotionally, I think had a lot to do with the success of the band,” he continued. “So again, I would never take that away from her, because I really did respect her musical opinion.”
He also highlighted the power of their musical alignment despite personal disagreements.
“We managed to disagree about everything else, but in music, when we would align, it was powerful,” Corgan said. “And I think that’s what makes a great band, when the four contributing factors of a band can come together.”
Corgan reflected on the original lineup’s legacy and noted the lasting importance of their work together.
“And at least for that line-up – the OG line-up – the three records we made, I mean, two of the three records turned out to be very important records,” he said. “So that’s something I always hold [dear]. It’s a shame there wasn’t more of it, and we certainly did try again in ’99, but I mean, I guess in a musician’s life, nothing is truly linear.”
The statement marks a notable moment of reconciliation from Corgan regarding his former bandmate’s contributions to The Smashing Pumpkins’ success.
This positive acknowledgment comes after years of tension between the two musicians, particularly surrounding the band’s reunion efforts. Riot Fest reported that Corgan and Wretzky made amends around 2016 and were reportedly “buds again,” suggesting a period of reconciliation between the former bandmates.
However, the relationship remained complicated during subsequent reunion planning. The Independent noted that Wretzky publicly disputed Corgan’s claims that he invited her to join reunion tours or studio work, calling his statements “complete lies.” She revealed that invitations were later rescinded and shared text message exchanges showing confusion and retracting of offers from Corgan during the band’s reunion planning.
Alternative Nation revealed that Corgan acknowledged the pain of the feud and expressed a desire to heal the wounds for fans and the band. However, he reportedly only offered Wretzky a guest role rather than full membership in reunion plans. Wretzky expressed disappointment about being cut out and alleged that Corgan minimized her past role and contribution, resulting in ongoing tensions.
Consequence confirmed that Wretzky is not participating in the official reunion involving Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin. She has criticized how financial splits and respect were handled. Despite Corgan’s continued public praise for Wretzky’s past impact on the band, clashes over the reunion’s terms remain unresolved, making his recent positive statement all the more unexpected.
