D'ARCY WRETZKY

'D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky' (born May 1, 1968 in South Haven, Michigan), also known simply as 'D'arcy', is a rock musician best known for her work as a bass player with the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins.

Contents

The Smashing Pumpkins

Personal life

References

External links

The Smashing Pumpkins

The group was founded in 1988 by Billy Corgan and James Iha. Corgan and Wretzky met at a local rock club when Wretzky took exception to comments she heard him making about the band they saw perform that night. An argument and discussion followed, and Corgan, impressed with her attitude, but not necessarily her ability to play bass, recruited her into the band. D'arcy dated fellow bandmate James Iha during part of her time in the band. After nearly twelve years of performing with the band, Wretzky left in 1999 to pursue an acting career. She was replaced with former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur. In December 2000, the Smashing Pumpkins played their final show before officially breaking up. James Iha, who sustained a longtime closeness and friendship with Wretzky, noted her absence along with his own gratitude and love for her. Meanwhile, Billy Corgan has since called her a "mean spirited drug addict" on his blog.^[1]
Wretzky is featured on the Smashing Pumpkins' studio albums ''Gish'', ''Siamese Dream'', ''Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness'', and ''Adore''. Prior to her departure, she also performed bass duties on all but one track of the band's fifth album ''Machina/The Machines of God''. She is not participating in the current revival of the band.

Personal life

D'arcy married Kerry Brown, the drummer of the band Catherine, in 1994. Her vocal talents were featured on the tracks "Four Leaf Clover" and "Punch Me Out" on the band's 1996 LP, ''Hot Saki and Bedtime Stories''. D'arcy also appeared in the video for "Four Leaf Clover". The couple have since been divorced for several years.
She was arrested January 25, 2000 in Chicago after she purchased three bags of crack cocaine. According to police, undercover officers observed Wretzky and a male companion enter a building on West Grand Avenue and then shortly afterwards returned to their car. The driver, identified as Tony Young, then drove off without his headlights on and proceeded to make two illegal U-turns before police stopped the car. When searched, the police found drugs in Young's pocket. The driver insisted they were not his, claiming that D'arcy "handed me some rocks to hold." Upon questioning, she admitted giving him the three plastic bags.
She could have faced a felony charge, but was not formally charged with a crime. She successfully completed a court-ordered drug education program, and charges were dropped.^[2]
Since completing the court-ordered program, D'arcy has been living in Watervliet, Michigan.^[3] She owns a horse farm and three antique shops. One of the horses D'arcy owns, "Jet Set Miss", was accepted into the Arabian Horse Pilot Program in August 2000 after passing inspection in Romeo, Michigan.^[4] She has remained almost entirely out of the public eye since 2000.
According to a Billy Corgan quote in 2005 she is writing a biography about the band.

References

1. Billy Corgan's Personal Blog. Written February 17, 2004
2. Biography at DarcyWretzky.org, a fansite, not official.
3. D'arcy Wretzky.org
4. Crakehner Times Newsletter

External links

★ Smashing Pumpkins.com

★ Official Smashing Pumpkins MySpace Page