There’s no denying the massive impact the Smashing Pumpkins have had on music—and there’s a reason why the band’s very first single, “I Am One,” started off with a rolling drum intro. Frontman Billy Corgan’s distinct vocal sneer and powerful guitar helped create hits like “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” “Zero” and “1979,” but drummer Jimmy Chamberlin’s creatively tight percussion work turned the songs into unforgettable works of art, and his drumming shines bright on albums like Gish and Siamese Dream. His jazz fusion project, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, is set to perform at Pappy and Harriet’s on Sunday, March 10. Tickets start at $35. For more info, visit pappyandharriets.com. Don’t miss a chance to see a rock legend in such an intimate venue!
What was the first concert you attended?
The Oscar Peterson Trio, featuring Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald. I was 12 or 13. It was here, this night, that I decided I wanted to be a professional musician.
What was the first album you owned?
Deep Purple, Who Do We Think We Are.
What bands are you listening to right now?
Mostly classic jazz with some scatterings of video game soundtracks like Guilty Gear -Strive-.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
Pop.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
The Mahavishnu Orchestra.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
1980s Brit/power pop: Squeeze, Crowded House/Split Enz, Rockpile, etc.
What’s your favorite music venue?
The Hollywood Bowl.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“It’s a small world, after all …”
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Miles Davis/Tony Williams. I learned that a singular musical ideology, if it’s right, can transcend all genres.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Carly Simon: Who is “You’re So Vain” really about?
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Fela Kuti, “Water No Get Enemy.”
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Shoot me, because I don’t have just one.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
John Lennon, “Imagine.”
