JIMMY CHAMBERLIN

'James Joseph Chamberlin' (born June 10, 1964 in Joliet, Illinois) is an American drummer, songwriter and producer. Chamberlin is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug escapade with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last Hard Men, but returned in 1999 for The Smashing Pumpkins' Arising! tour. Following the 2000 breakup of the band, Chamberlin joined frontman Billy Corgan in the supergroup Zwan and also formed his own group, the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. In 2006 Chamberlin once again joined Corgan in reforming The Smashing Pumpkins.
Chamberlin, who originally trained as a jazz drummer, cites jazz musicians Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, as well as rock drummers Keith Moon and John Bonham as major influences on his technique.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Smashing Pumpkins

Jimmy Chamberlin Complex

Reunion of the Smashing Pumpkins

Musical style

Notes and references

External links

Biography

Early life

James Chamberlin was born on June 101964 in . His father and his older brother were both active in local jazz bands, playing clarinet and drums respectively.^[1] Chamberlin's early musical training was primarily as a jazz drummer under the instruction of future Yanni drummer Charles Adams.^[2] He played in several Chicago area outfits before joining the Smashing Pumpkins shortly after their formation in 1988.

Smashing Pumpkins

Chamberlin was an integral part of the Smashing Pumpkins' first three increasingly popular albums, 1991's ''Gish'', 1993's ''Siamese Dream'', and 1995's ''Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness''. His problems with substance abuse came to a head, however, at the peak of the Pumpkins' commercial popularity during the 1996 supporting tour for the Mellon Collie album. Prior to shows scheduled at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Chamberlin and touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin used heroin in a hotel room, leading to a much publicized fatal overdose by Melvoin. Following this episode, Chamberlin was kicked out of the band and replaced by touring and session drummers. During this time, Chamberlin went back into rehab. In late 1996, he then joined The Last Hard Men, lead by ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach. The band released its one and only album in 1996 and 1997, though its release was delayed until 2001 due to being caught in "major-label development hell."^[3]
In 1999, Chamberlin returned to the Smashing Pumpkins for the Arising! Tour and subsequently recorded two albums with the band—''Machina/The Machines of God'' (2000) and ''Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music'' (2000). The Smashing Pumpkins broke up following the 2000 tour in support of ''Machina''.
Chamberlin went on to form Zwan in 2001 with his longtime friend and creative foil, Pumpkins singer/guitarist Billy Corgan. Zwan produced a single album, ''Mary Star of the Sea'', and disbanded in 2003.
In April 2002, Chamberlin married Lori Wilton. They had a daughter, Audrey Ella, who was born in December of that year. He also has a son, Lucas Merriweather, born in March 2006.

Jimmy Chamberlin Complex

Chamberlin later formed the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, which recorded its debut album in 2004. Band personnel included Chamberlin (drums and lyrics), Billy Mohler (bass; also of The Calling), Sean Woolstenhulme (guitar; also of Lifehouse), and Adam Benjamin (Fender Rhodes). Additional musicians included Rob Dickinson (vocals; formerly of Catherine Wheel), Billy Corgan (vocals), "The Incomparable" Bill Medley (vocals; of the Righteous Brothers), Paul Chamberlin (additional drums; also Jimmy's older brother), Corey Wilton (guitar), and Linda Strawberry (vocals). The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex released ''Life Begins Again'' on January 25, 2005; Chamberlin also had a side project with former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra.

Reunion of the Smashing Pumpkins

Billy Corgan announced at an April 2004 solo performance that he and Chamberlin intended to work together again in the future. After appearing on ''Life Begins Again'', Corgan announced plans to reunite the Pumpkins through a full-page advertisement in his hometown's newspaper, the ''Chicago Tribune'', on June 21, 2005. Chamberlin contacted Corgan to accept, and on February 2 2006, MTV.com reported that he and Corgan had signed a new management deal with the Front Line Management, with a spokesperson confirming they had signed under the name "Smashing Pumpkins".^[4]
On April 20 2006 it was officially announced on the band's official website that "The Smashing Pumpkins are currently writing songs for their upcoming album, their first since 1999."^[5] The site was updated on July 28 to mention that the band was in the studio. Corgan and Chamberlin are verified as members of the current lineup, as well as Jeff Schroeder replacing James Iha on guitar and Ginger Reyes replacing D'Arcy Wretzky on Bass. Their first show was played in Paris on May 22, 2007. On July 10, the band's new album, ''Zeitgeist'', was released.

Musical style

Chamberlin comes from a jazz background, and he notes jazz musicians Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich as influences.¹ In general, he is one of the few hard rock drummers to combine a driving backbeat with jazz-like flourishes. When asked about his influences in 2007, he responded: Ask A Pumpkin: Billy & Jimmy answer!

Notes and references

1. Drummerworld: Jimmy Chamberlin
2. Jimmy Chamberlin > Biography Bekkala, Steve
3. The Last Hard Men Salmon, Jeremy
4. Smashing Pumpkins Reunion Is Under Way, According To Sources Harris, Chris
5. Smashing Pumpkins Site Says 'It's Official' — Band Has Reunited Kaufman, Gil

External links

★ Official website

★ Biography

★ Jimmy's Love Letters Blogs by Chamberlin about the reformation of The Smashing Pumpkins

★ The Smashing Pumpkins - The Smashing Pumpkins official website.