The Smashing Pumpkins receive over 10,000 applications for new guitarist

17 January 2024, 13:45 | Updated: 17 January 2024, 13:48

The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan during The World Is A Vampire Tour in 2023. Picture: Jeff Hahne/Getty Images

The 1979 rockers have revealed the phenomenal response to their open advertisement for a guitarist online.

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The Smashing Pumpkins are on the hunt for an additional guitarist... and they've had an overwhelming response to their open application so far.

Billy Corgan and co previously launched a search for a new instrumentalist on social media, opening up applications to "anyone who might be interested".

Sharing their advertisement on social media, the band explained that interested parties should: "Please send a resume and any related materials to SPGuitar@redlightmanagement.com".

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The 1979 rockers have now taken to social media to reveal they've had over 10,000 applications and that a team of people to work their way through them.

Sharing a post, marked "Update" the band said: "The band has received over 10,000 submissions for the position of additional guitarist. Currently there are 8 people working full time to review each and every one.

Update pic.twitter.com/J2GoayuBvw
— The Smashing Pumpkins (@SmashingPumpkin) January 17, 2024

The news comes after the announcement in October that longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder had decided to leave the band.

In a statement posted to the band’s social media, Schroeder wrote: "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."

He added: "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."

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The extra axeman will come in handy for the 90s legends, who are set to embark on a European tour with Weezer this summer.

Their string of gigs will kick off in the UK and Ireland, seeing the Tonight rockers play dates at the likes of the Birmingham Utilita Arena, London's O2 Arena and Manchester Co-op Live.

SP is excited to announce we will be touring UK & Ireland next year with Weezer. Tickets will go on general sale 10am Friday 20th October. Sign up now to receive early access to pre-sale tickets at 10am Wednesday 18th October. https://t.co/4Btp3I4R7X pic.twitter.com/JE9ZtpqniX
— The Smashing Pumpkins (@SmashingPumpkin) October 16, 2023