Pumpkins Smash Beck's Lineup
The Smashing Pumpkins chose a new drummer and are making waves in L.A. of late. Tensions in the studio are running high between co-producers Billy Corgan and Rick Rubin and, more notably, the band has snagged Beck's drummer, Joey Waronker right from under his nose.

Of course Waronker's name is familiar -- not only is he the older brother of the late That Dog's Anna, but his father Lenny is the number two bigwig at Dreamworks and former president of Warner Brothers for many years. But Waronker himself is no slouch: he played drums on John Doe's Thing's Rest of Us in 1996 along with Steve McDonald of Red Kross (and sister Anna's boyfriend), and Smokey Hormel from Beck's band. Also, Waronker has earned extra spending money as a much-in- demand session drummer. This leave-taking will be a huge loss to Beck's band, whose live act got a tremendous boost after Waronker joined.

The news of his defection, confirmed by a source at Virgin records (who asked to remain anonymous, no doubt for fear of facing the wrath of Billy), does not surprise intimates of the younger Waronker. "Joey is a really ambitious guy; he's always had big dreams," said one. However, former colleague and almost-family member McDonald insisted that he was unaware of the switch, but he knew his compatriot had worked with them on occasion. "I don't know whether Joey has joined the Smashing Pumpkins, but I do know he's played with them," he said.

Waronker began his career after a stint in college in Minnesota, when he and some friends began a band named after a favorite professor, Mr Mink. They put out a two albums on Caroline Records before being drafted to the majors, releasing one album for Atlantic in 1996, but by that time Waronker was no longer in the band. His varied experience is no doubt one of the reasons the Pumpkins tapped him. "He can play anything," said McDonald, "from the hard rock of Walter Mink to the eclectic sixties sounds of Beck. He's a Hal Blaine for the nineties."

In related news: The Punkins are putting the finishing touches on the new album, cut at Los Angeles' Village Recorder. Most of the record was produced by both Billy Corgan and the inimitable Flood, a few tracks produced by Rick Rubin. And as you know from earlier reports, former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron's work will show up on 10-12 of the cuts. Virgin Records says the album would be in stores in June.

-Jaan Uhelszki (of Muzic.com)