D arcy Wretzky, the former bassist for The Smashing Pumpkins, was a big part of the band’s rise to fame in the 1990s, according to Far Out. Known for her role in the group and the controversies that followed, people still wonder what she’s been up to since leaving the lineup.
Wretzky In The Smashing Pumpkins
Wretzky once recalled joining The Smashing Pumpkins in 1988 after meeting Billy Corgan outside a Chicago club. She became the band’s bassist alongside James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, playing on the first five albums including ‘Gish,’ ‘Siamese Dream,’ and ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’ (per Wikipedia).
Corgan later admitted that he recorded many of the bass parts himself for ‘Gish’ and ‘Siamese Dream,’ Far Out reported.
Shaky Relationship With The Band’s Frontman
Wretzky’s time in the band and relationship with Corgan were far from smooth. She and the vocalist often argued. According to Far Out, Corgan once described his ex-bandmate as the ‘moral conscience’ of The Smashing Pumpkins but also accused her of ‘losing it’ and getting into drugs.
In 1999, the bassist left the group, saying she wanted to try acting, though she never actually pursued it. Corgan claimed she was fired for being ‘mean-spirited’ and refusing to get help for drug issues. Wretzky denied these claims and blamed the band’s toxic environment (per El Pais).
Years Following The Bassist’s Departure
Years after she left, Wretzky and Corgan tried to patch things up. In 2016, Corgan said they were on talking terms, but by 2018, their relationship fell apart again, Guitar wrote. Wretzky said she was invited to join the band’s ‘Shiny and Oh So Bright’ tour, but that the offer was later withdrawn. She even shared text messages between her and Corgan to back up her side of the story.
Leaving the band behind, Wretzky worked on a few different projects. She sang for the band Catherine and contributed to the Filter song ‘Cancer’ (via Wikipedia). More recently, she jammed with Michigan doom metal band Grave Next Door, though nothing official came out of it.
She’s Away From The Public Eye These Days
These days, Wretzky lives on a horse farm in Michigan and stays out of the public eye, according to Far Out. In 2011, she had legal trouble after her horses caused issues in her town, leading to a brief jail stint. She was arrested again shortly after for drunk driving.
The bassist’s not active on social media and hasn’t shown any interest in returning to music, Heightline reported a few years ago. Her last public appearance was in 2018 when she shared her version of what happened with the band via El Pais.
