Jeff Schroeder has left the Smashing Pumpkins. The guitarist, who has been a part of the band since 2006, announced the news over on the Pumpkins’ official Instagram. “The amount of incredible memories created over the last 16 years with the band are almost too numerous to quantify,” he wrote. “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.”
“We thank Jeff for his ceaseless dedication to the band and our great fans,” Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha wrote in a joint statement. “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, making his live debut as a member of the touring band in 2007. Though he didn’t contribute to their comeback album Zeitgeist, he became an essential member of the band’s core lineup, recording with them over the next decade-plus, most recently on this year’s Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts. In 2021, Schroeder released his debut solo single “Haenim.”
Here is Schroeder’s full farewell message:
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. 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.
