Smashing Pumpkins' Drummer Fired, Concerts Postponed

DRUG USE TRENDS September 1996

A month after Smashing Pumpkins' keyboardist, Jonathan Melvoin, died of a heroin overdose, the band fired their drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin, who was with Melvoin on the night he died. "For nine years, we have battled with Jimmy's struggles with the insidious disease of drug and alcohol addiction," the band said in a statement. "It has destroyed everything we stand for." Chamberlin, 32, was arrested for misdemeanor heroin possession following Melvoin's death in New York on July 12. Smashing Pumpkins canceled 11 concerts after Melvoin's death and postponed concerts for two weeks in August, saying more rehearsal is needed ("Smashing Pumpkins dump drug-using drummer," Virginian-Pilot, July 20, 1996, p. B8; "Smashing schedules," News & Observer, August 10, 1996, p. A2).