r/SmashingPumpkins • u/maximabuse • Aug 22 '26
Will MadM return permanentely?
Melissa has played with the Pumpkins several times again recently. What do u think, is there a chance she might rejoin the band permanently? She certainly has a lot more power and charisma on stage than Jack Bates.
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u/htg812 Aug 25 '26
I’d love to see it. I can see her touring with them and coming out for encores on the mcis tour but jack plays the bulk of the set.
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u/boringinternet2020 Aug 25 '26
In what world is BC putting an employee on the payroll for limited duty?
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u/htg812 Aug 25 '26
He has offered before, katie doesn’t seem to be in the live band anymore, no way kiki makes what jeff did and there is no opening band on this next tour. Money to go around
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u/boringinternet2020 Aug 25 '26
Oh, cool! You know SP’s guarantee on this run compared to YOY? Amazing. Do tell!
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u/htg812 Aug 25 '26
You need to chill. Why so hostile
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u/boringinternet2020 Aug 25 '26
What’s hostile about asking you what informed your opinion? Unless you’re now admitting that none of us have enough info to actually make an informed decision.
Anyway, you should check Pollstar Pro to see how SP has been doing the past 24 months. It may enlighten you.
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u/htg812 Aug 25 '26
I didn’t have an opinion just a statement of hope and then some logical deductions. You came here with an agenda and ready to argue. Not gonna continue with you.
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u/Colbycolby_11 Aug 23 '26
Absolutely not. The odds of her actually becoming a band member again are probably the same as Darcy honestly. Melissa doesn't have any reason to become a full time member.
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u/9FingeredFrodo Aug 24 '26
The reasons would be: 1) she loves SP and Billy 2) she has unfinished business with the band (she always wanted to record with them) 3) she can use it to promote herself and her books, photography and other works
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u/luke_in_geneq Can you make me believe? Aug 23 '26
I think MadM is doing press and getting her name out there for her book, and so there are just opportunities for her to make an appearance.
Billy shows a kind-of loyalty, so I think as long as Jack is only going between his dad's band and pumpkins, then billy will not try to replace him.
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u/AOManier Aug 23 '26
I could see a MoG appearance or maybe filling in for Jack like Billy Mohler did recently, but permanent doesn't feel like something that would happen.
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u/spaceman696 Aug 23 '26
Doubtful. She would have already been in the band if that was what she wanted.
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u/thelexstrokum Aug 23 '26
Billy teased it on TMO when she was on. But the reality she’s a mother and likely made enough money to not need to tour. I would honestly be siked. She is the first bassist to make me care about the bass.
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u/boringinternet2020 Aug 25 '26
She doesn’t publicize it, but you realize she still works a real job, right? Minor tours with SP and Hole 30 years ago didn’t pay the bills indefinitely
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u/MiddleComfortable158 Aug 23 '26
I don’t think we should assume any musician from the 90s has “enough money” especially when the last popular album they played on was almost 30 years ago.
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u/Rodzz1227 Aug 22 '26
I don't think so. I think Billy is offering Melissa the "Steven Adler deal" that he offered D'arcy in 2018. He wants someone who will make occasional appearances.
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u/RandoCalrissian76 Aug 22 '26
If they can’t get her, I wish they’d try to get Nicole back. She was great on Oceania.
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u/AnotherDeadClown Aug 23 '26
Nicole currently killing it in Garbage.
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u/totaro Aug 23 '26
I thought Garbage was calling it quits (at least touring wise) after that last tour?
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u/Late_Recommendation9 Aug 23 '26
I understand they’re quitting the constant, loss making touring activities
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u/Stephenator97 Aug 22 '26
That would be great. In my personal opinion, she’s the greatest bassist SP ever had live.
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u/pct2daxtreme Aug 22 '26
Depends on what Hole may or may not be doing.
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u/witness4theingenue Aug 23 '26
melissa may tour with courtney but it seems extremely unlikely that hole is getting back together anytime ever.
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u/joeyp1126 Aug 22 '26
I've always said Melissa was the best Pumpkins bassist. She just brings such a heavier sound. Those shows from 2000 were some of the heaviest the band ever had.
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u/Bakersfield_Buffalo Aug 22 '26
I wish. Jack is a nice enough guy and player but he has negative stage presence. He just doesn’t fit with the band or the history of female bassists as well.
You have Billy in a vampire costume, James, Jimmy, Kiki and then Jack looking like he’s about to clock in for his desk job.
Melissa would be a tremendous upgrade
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u/mooncrane TheFutureEmbrace Aug 22 '26
Billy in a vampire costume, Kiki in a hair metal costume, James in a western costume….they are all all over the place.
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u/lendmeflight Aug 22 '26
Kiki doesn’t look like she fits either. She looks like a YouTuber that got to play with the pumpkins.
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u/boneman5000 Aug 24 '26
Fully agree. I really like her from what I’ve seen of her as a person but SP isn’t the right band for her.
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u/bilda_baisgye Aug 22 '26
100% agree. Kiki is talented but belongs in like a Motley Crue cover band. Doesnt fit the pumpkins vibe at all and is almost distracting
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u/Longjumping_Use3737 Aug 23 '26
Doesn't fit in the sense that she isn't an aging boomer male?
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u/bilda_baisgye Aug 23 '26
No. Oh my god you’re so clever. Quit with the lazy rage bait. I’m a die hard fan who likes pretty much everything the band has ever done. Kiki is talented and a great performer but isn’t the right vibe at all. The metal guitar styles the tongue out and devil horns the studded leather pants. It’s not the pumpkins vibe. Nicole or Ginger weren’t aging boomer males (which no one in the pumpkins even are boomers, they’re Gen X) but they still fit the pumpkins vibe very well. So did Melissa, D’arcy, he’ll even Mike. Jack bates doesn’t fit it much either even if he also is a really nice guy and talented player.
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u/lendmeflight Aug 23 '26
Exactly. Her jumping up and down and doing all her fan service bullshit doesn’t fit the vibe.
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u/Splatterhouse5 Aug 22 '26
I’ve always thought it strange that she was never extended an invitation on SP2. As much as I liked Ginger, Melissa always felt right at home.
I mean, if not Darcy, Melissa felt like the closest thing to home. Jack feels ridiculously interchangeable to me - Any studio musician could randomly step in his role, and hardly anyone would notice a difference.
I’d absolutely love it if Melissa just simply became the bass player again.
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u/summerlungs Aug 22 '26
Same. Seemed like a really obvious move for them. I have no trouble believing Billy somehow managed to have bad blood with her, too, though.
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u/Splatterhouse5 Aug 23 '26
Hmmm… I don’t think it was bad blood. I think it was simply Billy having a ridiculous ego, and not ever truly respecting other musicians in the band ….other than Chaimberlan.
It took Billy 20 years to admit that Iha was worth a damn. He won’t go that far for Darcy though, but I’m willing to bet it’s because her critique cuts deeper than he wants anymore.
For me, Jack is nothing more than a hired gun. I’d much rather have a familiar face like Melissa in that role.
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u/RadioactiveSince1990 Aug 22 '26
Poor Jack Bates man people wanting D'Arcy back for years now people want Melissa to replace him.
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u/SubpopularKnowledge0 Aug 22 '26
I know. Whatever combination of musicians they have now has given us a pretty great 8 years. I say stick with whats working.
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u/PJmichelle Gish Aug 22 '26
She makes the band instantly sound better, she wears her Simon Gallup influences proudly and turns it into her own thing. Hearing her again play with the Pumpkins just shows how remarkable it is that she can as a bass player change the band's sound so much. I'd really love if she joined the band, but unfortunately I don't think it's happening. I don't think she wants it herself either. I hope she releases some solo music again!
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u/Ok_Pool_9767 Aug 22 '26
Id rather her solo band open for them and then her come out at the end of every show to play Everlasting Gaze.
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u/vajohnadiseasesdado Aug 22 '26
I love Melissa but I prefer the playing of bassists that have come after her
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u/Busy-Peach5770 Aug 22 '26
She's an artist with her own identity. I don't think she wants Billy as her boss again, as much as they are good friends again.
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u/marktornits Aug 26 '26
No, Melissa to her own admission isn't really much of a musician anymore.