On Thu, 15 Aug 1996, Scott Miller wrote:
> On Thu, 15 Aug 1996, flapjack wrote:
> >[. . .]  Personally, the band should re-name itself.

> [RHCP example noted and munched]
> So, as you see, a band name is a state of mind, and "IF" SP does get a new
> permanent he will probably be chosen because he can fit within that frame
> of mind as the others.

  Y'know I used to think the same way, especially concerning the Pumpkins.
I think the first real article I read about them was the SD Rolling Stone
article.  After reading that I thought I had the band pegged as Billy plus
3 relatively inconsequential people.

  It took a long time for that image to go away.  It didn't really go away
until people started pointing out the little things that the other people
did.

  I never really appreciate Jimmy's drumming until a couple of people
pointed out that it was good.  With that in mind I spent hours just
listening to the drum lines.  Even today I still stumble upon a song whose
drumming escaped my listening.  I've really loved that the drummers have
recently been posting stuff to listen for.  No matter how much I listen on
my own a trained ear can always point out something that I missed.

  With James it was learning that it co-wrote I Am 1, Mayo, and Soma.  Who
knows how many fills he's penned.  His contributions to the music are
probably small little things here and there that can't be appreciated
out of context, but would be sorely missed.

  D'arcy is a little bit tougher to point to specific examples (mostly
because she seems to stay clear of the press), but I do believe that she's
participated in the creative process.  I fully expect people who are more
astute than I to point out stuff that she has done.

  I really don't like to throw around quotes to prove points, but on
several occasions Billy has said stuff that would suggest the creative
process is one that is very involved.  Yes, the songs and lyrics come from
Billy, but the other three touched many (if not all) of the songs that we
have.

  In this sense SP is all four members.  Without all four the band isn't
complete in the same way it was.  While I don't think the band is required
to change names, but by changing their name they would be respecting the
time and music that Jimmy was part of.

  Frankly I'm not too disappointed about Jimmy being fired.  The Pumpkins
were heading towards new musical frontiers and all four members weren't
required or even promised.  What I am sorry to see is the manner in which
the band has been "broken". They could have handled this better, but I
think right now the band is trying to please as many people as possible.
This ain't entirely wrong, but it's not what I would have done.  Of course
it ain't my call to make and I don't envy them a bit.

----
Josh Sherman                               |Every human
jsherman@u.washington.edu                  |problem has a
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~jsherman    |12 gauge solution.