Watch BIlly Corgan talks up the Pumpkins accoustic tour on 101WKQX in Feb 2016 

For more than a year now, the rumors and rumblings of the original lineup of Chicago’s own Smashing Pumpkins reuniting have persisted, reaching another fan-fevered pitch last week when Billy Corgan posted this pic of James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin with in a recording studio.  So what is the role of bassist D’Arcy Wretzky in this OG Pumpkins good time get-back-together?

Issuing a statement via text to the music blog Blast Echo, the elusive Wretzky says  “My apologies to all of the Smashing Pumpkins fans out there who are excited about this oncoming reunion tour of the original members of the band. I know this is a huge disappointment for me, as well, but it’s not going to happen [with me] I only just found about yesterday that the band has decided to go with a different bass player.”

In the same article, Wretzky shared that the band is prepping for a summer tour in July with a different bassist featuring front-man Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. This assemblage of Pumpkins has performed together sporadically over the last few years including a show in Los Angeles where Iha made a surprise cameo. None of this 2018 tour info has been confirmed by Corgan or anyone else associated with the band at this time.

Alternative Nation has reported that Corgan, Iha, and Chamberlin have been working towards a ‘very special occasion’ a few weeks ago in Los Angeles.

Corgan has been active recently with a Rick Rubin produced solo album ‘Ogilala’ and producing the oldest pro wrestling promotion in the world, National Wrestling Alliance. To be clear, Corgan has kept the Smashing Pumpkins alive with other talented musicians, and Chamberlin has been involved here and there since the 2005 reactivation. All four original members of the Pumpkins have not played together since 1999.