Rumors about a Smashing Pumpkins reunion album have been circling for a while, and anticipation for it has steadily grown. This is due to Billy Corgan, frontman for the Smashing Pumpkins, who has spent a good amount of the past year creating excitement over a possible reunion. Although fans are skeptical about who exactly will return for the reunion. The relationship between members of the band has been strained over the years.

This past Monday, frontman for the Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan went on Instagram to address rumors that the band was selecting a new bassist for the highly anticipated Smashing Pumpkins reunion album. The Instagram post comes after news that D’arcy Wretzky, Pumpkins’ original bassist would not have any involvement with the reunion album. This past month, Wretzky told the blog BlastEcho, “ I know this is a huge disappointment for me, as well but it’s not going to happen [with me]. I only just found about yesterday that the band has decided to go with a different bass player.”

Corgan dismissed any rumors that the newest band member Jeff Schroeder would take over the bass job, writing, “though Jeff doesn’t mind plucking at 4 strings if needed I know he would much prefer the dulcet tones of 6.”

He ended his post with encouragement to his fans to live in the moment,”Wisdom here dictates that I share something I have said many times as of late, which is: Be here now, live in the present. There truly is no past (but that which lives in your mind), and the future too is but a dream. So kindly, truly, embrace the life you are living TODAY. ”

That’s some good advice for everyone to take. Read Corgan’s full statement below.

The upcoming reunion album will include original Smashing Pumpkins members Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin and is rumored to be produced by Rick Rubin. Recent posts on social media specifically Instagram, where musicians go to share all their announcements, from both Corgan and Chamberlin confirms that they are indeed recording in Rubin’s Malibu studio.

What a weekend! Saturday, I was high in the hills of Topanga, overlooking the ocean on a beautiful sunny day, and according to some reports (based on photos taken or leaked) I am now a bassist. I mean, yes, I have played bass on many of your fave songs but I’m not sure I can play bass AND sing at the same time? But perhaps I can try *someday*. Other reports have @jjjschroeder (who just celebrated a birthday) as a budding bassist. Which is interesting, because though Jeff doesn’t mind plucking at 4 strings if needed I know he would much prefer the dulcet tones of 6 (but I have heard him confess that 7 strings is just ‘too much’) @jamesihaofficial on the other hand, well, I haven’t seen him pick up a bass since Machina (which he played a fair share on, despite reports claiming a certain ‘flaxen Saxxon’ did; and as you know with much that is written is patently f-a-l-s-e). Which brings me back to my time in the hills of Topanga, dressed in a long coat, staring out into the ocean dreaming of a future not yet realized. Wisdom here dictates that I share something I have said many times as of late, which is: be here now, live in the present. There truly is no past (but that which lives in your mind), and the future too is but a dream. So kindly, truly, embrace the life you are living TODAY Which reminds me of a song that I also played bass on… #WPC #becarefulwhatyouwishfor (tattoo courtesy of @sir.cophagus

A post shared by WilliamPatrickCorgan (@williampcorgan) on Feb 5, 2018 at 7:31am PST

Photo credit by Raymond Flotat