Mike Garson
Mike Garson | |
|---|---|
 Garson in Paris, 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael David Garson |
| Born | July 29, 1945 New York City |
| Artists | The Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, James Iha |
| Role | Piano, keyboards |
| Website | mikegarson.com |
| Wikipedia | Mike Garson |
Michael David Garson (born July 29, 1945) is an American pianist, who in addition to The Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex and James Iha, has worked with David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, St. Vincent, and Free Flight. He is known for his improv style, never playing a song the same way twice.
Garson joined The Smashing Pumpkins in 1998 for their Adore tour, playing piano, keyboards and synthesizer. His piano playing was an integral part of the Pumpkins' performance. After the tour, he joined guitarist Billy Corgan on his solo effort—the soundtrack for the 1999 supernatural horror film Stigmata. Additionally Garson played piano on 2000's Machina/The Machines of God on the song "With Every Light", as well as "Le Deux Machina" from Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, clips of which were used in the song "Glass and the Ghost Children" from Machina I.
In 2005 he appeared on bonus tracks from Jimmy Chamberlin Complex's debut album Life Begins Again, and on "Appetite" from James Iha's 2012 album, Look to the Sky.
In December 2018, Garson returned to perform with The Smashing Pumpkins in Los Angeles-area concerts. During one of these performances, Corgan discussed the 2018 California wildfires, which had recently hit Malibu. The Woolsey Fire specifically leveled both Garson's home and studio to the ground.[1] Fortunately no one was hurt, and friends of Garson started a GoFundMe to help raise money to rebuild his studio.[2]
Relevant discography[edit | edit source]
Billy Corgan[edit | edit source]
- 1999: Stigmata
The Smashing Pumpkins[edit | edit source]
Jimmy Chamberlin Complex[edit | edit source]
- 2005: Life Begins Again (bonus tracks)
James Iha[edit | edit source]
- 2012: Look to the Sky (on "Appetite")
Touring stats
- Total shows: 112 shows
- First performance: David Bowie 1997-01-09 (featuring Billy Corgan) at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, US
- Last performance: Mike Garson, Jimmy Chamberlin and Frank Catalano 2023-12-07 (featuring Jimmy Chamberlin) at Madame ZuZu's, Highland Park, IL, US
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Rubin, Joel. "A family watched their homes burn on TV, one after another". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
- ↑ Hatfield, Amanda. "Bowie collaborator Mike Garson's home & studio destroyed in California fire". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 29, 2021.