Cait Stoddard October 24th, 2023 - 1:07 PM
According to stereogum.com, guitarist Jeff Schroeder has announced on Instagram that he has left the Smashing Pumpkins. The artist has been a part of the band since 2006.
View this post on Instagram
“It’s easy to say now that when I joined The Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 I had no idea what I was getting into. The opportunity seemed to have come out of nowhere. I was at UCLA working on my doctorate in comparative literature when a close friend messaged me and said The Smashing Pumpkins were looking for a guitar player. Being a huge fan of the band, the audition was something I threw myself into. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. The amount of incredible memories created over the last 16 years with the band are almost too numerous to quantify.”
The post continues with: “Although it was a very difficult decision to make, I’ve decided to leave the band to make some space to explore a slightly different path. I want to thank Billy, Jimmy, James, and Jack for being both wonderful bandmates and even better friends. I will absolutely miss sharing the stage with you. I wish the band all the success in the future. I will be watching and listening.”
In the following joint statement Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha express their gratitude toward Schroeder.
“We thank Jeff for his ceaseless dedication to the band and our great fans. Words can not express our gratitude and appreciation for the friend he is, and being there for SP in the good times and the tough times, too.”
Schroeder officially joined the Smashing Pumpkins when they first reunited in the mid-’00s, which made his live debut as a member of the touring band in 2007.
Although the guitarist contributed to the band’s comeback album Zeitgeist, he became an essential member of the core lineup, by recording with Smashing Pumpkins over the next decade and most recently on Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts. Back in 2021 Schroeder released his debut solo single “Haenim.”
Photo Credit: Alyssa Fried
