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William Patrick Corgan Jr. was born to Bill Martha Corgan on March 17, 1967. He was born in Chicago, his father was a blues musician and his mother was a flight attendant. Billy grew up playing the guitar in his spare time while working at an old record store and then at a pizza shop as a delivery boy. In 1985, Billy formed a band called Hexen. Then, in around 1986 he formed a band called the Marked. The band had very little success so they broke up and Billy moved back to Chicago to live with his father. In Chicago, he met James Iha. The two played at a Polish bar in 1988, just two guitarists and a drum machine to keep the beat. James and Billy played together for a few months, when Billy met D'arcy Wretzky outside a nightclub. She joined as the bassist. Later that year, Billy hired Jimmy Chamberlin to play drums for them on an opening slot for a Jane's Addiction concert.
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D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky was born on May 1, 1968 in Michigan. Little is known about her childhood except that she has two sisters, one is on the "Today" cd single. D'arcy has formal training on the oboe but none on the bass guitar. She left for Germany, and called Billy when she returned, because he was still looking for a bassist for the band On September 9, 1999 after 10 years in the band D'arcy left and was replaced by Melissa Auf der Maur for the upcoming tour.
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| James Yoshinobu Iha was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 26, 1968. He has been in several bands before the Smashing Pumpkins. He has also modeled for Anna Sui in 1996. James is a co-owner of Scratchie Records with D'arcy Wretzky which began in in 1996 and has signed bands such as Fulflej, Fountains of Wayne, and the Frogs. |  |
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Jimmy Chamberlin was born on June 10, 1964 in Joliet, Illinois. His brother was a jazz drummer, like his father. Jimmy also took up drumming, and before the Smashing Pumpkins he played in several jazz bands, including JP and the Cats, and Eddie Karosa's Polka Party. Billy hired Jimmy when the band opened for Jane's Addiction. In July of 1996 in New York City, he and touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin overdosed on heroin. Jonathan died, and Jimmy was arrested for possession of heroin. Billy, James, and D'arcy immediately kicked Jimmy out of the band. Jimmy entered drug rehab. When, he was finished, he joined the Last Hard Men who recorded a cover of Alice Cooper's "School's Out" for the Scream soundtrack. Then, in 1999 Billy and Jimmy met for lunch. Jimmy was rehired and played on the Arising! Tour, "Machina: Machines of the Gods" and the tour for the album.
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