The Reason Maynard James Keenan Thinks The Smashing Pumpkins Should Call It A Day

Many bands went under lineup changes during their music career. Some result from creative differences, while internal conflicts or individual endeavors cause others. If the departed member has a distinctive sound or is a significant figure, fans might have difficulty accepting this change.

The Smashing Pumpkins is also a band that has undergone many lineup changes. As it seems, Maynard James Keenan is among those who believed The Smashing Pumpkins should leave the music scene after a crucial change. In an interview conducted in 2010, the Tool frontman elaborated on this thought.

The Smashing Pumpkins Had Many Lineup Changes

On May 23, 2000, Billy Corgan announced that The Smashing Pumpkins decided to split at the end of the year after touring and recording. They then released their final album before disbandment, ‘Machina II/The Friends & Enemies Of Modern Music,’ and played a farewell concert at The Metro, where the band started their career.

Following The Smashing Pumpkins’ break-up, the band’s guitarist James Iha pursued many projects, including joining A Perfect Circle. During his tenure in the band, Iha appeared on the Circle’s ‘Thirteenth Step’ club tour and 2004’s record ‘eMOTIVe.’ Moreover, Corgan and Iha blamed each other for the Pumpkins’ disbandment at that period.

Corgan announced his plans to reunite The Smashing Pumpkins on June 21, 2005. However, apart from Corgan and Chamberlain, Iha, Wretzky, and Auf der Maur didn’t want to participate in the reunion. The band continued with other members filling in for them, but Chamberlain also left in March 2009.

After Chamberlain’s departure, Spirits in the Sky drummer Mike Byrne replaced him in the band. On the other hand, Ginger Reyes left the band, and Nicole Fiorentino joined as her replacement. After releasing the ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’ album, the new lineup embarked on a world tour in 2010.

Maynard James Keenan Believed The Smashing Pumpkins Should Retire

In an interview in 2010, Andrew McMillen asked Maynard James Keenan his thoughts about one of The Smashing Pumpkins shows, asking whether Corgan was rushing well-known songs to play the new ones. Keenan said he cannot relate to that feeling and then added that he finds it hard to believe that The Smashing Pumpkins was still playing without James Iha.

In the interview, McMillen asked Maynard James Keenan the following:

“I saw The Smashing Pumpkins recently. It felt like Billy Corgan was rushing to get some of his more well-known songs out of the way so he could play the new stuff. Can you relate to that kind of feeling?”

Keenan then said:

“No, no. I mean, especially since James Iha’s not in the band, I can’t relate to the fact that The Smashing Pumpkins are out there.

On his birthday in 2016, James Iha finally joined Corgan, Chamberlain, and Jeff Schroeder on stage at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. After this, Iha returned to the band, and The Smashing Pumpkins’ current lineup features Iha, Corgan, Schroeder, and Chamberlain.