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Melissa Auf der Maur: Difference between revisions
expand on time with Tinker and Hole and meeting Corgan; much of this was copied from w:Melissa Auf der Maur (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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VH1 placed Auf der Maur at number 68 on its list of 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll in 2007<ref name="asm">{{cite web|url=http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_100/135_melissa_auf_der_maur_interview.html|title=Interview: Melissa Auf Der Maur|work=[[w:AskMen|AskMen]]|publisher=[[w:Ziff Davis|Ziff Davis]]|date=July 20, 2007|accessdate=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719031051/http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_100/135_melissa_auf_der_maur_interview.html|archive-date=July 19, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and her solo albums have received favorable reviews.<ref name="mc">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/person/auf-der-maur|title=Auf der Maur Profile|work=[[w:Metacritic|Metacritic]]|publisher=[[w:CBS Interactive|CBS Interactive]]|accessdate=June 8, 2014}}</ref> | VH1 placed Auf der Maur at number 68 on its list of 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll in 2007<ref name="asm">{{cite web|url=http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_100/135_melissa_auf_der_maur_interview.html|title=Interview: Melissa Auf Der Maur|work=[[w:AskMen|AskMen]]|publisher=[[w:Ziff Davis|Ziff Davis]]|date=July 20, 2007|accessdate=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719031051/http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_100/135_melissa_auf_der_maur_interview.html|archive-date=July 19, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and her solo albums have received favorable reviews.<ref name="mc">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/person/auf-der-maur|title=Auf der Maur Profile|work=[[w:Metacritic|Metacritic]]|publisher=[[w:CBS Interactive|CBS Interactive]]|accessdate=June 8, 2014}}</ref> | ||
== Tinker and Hole == | |||
At a [[The Smashing Pumpkins 1991-07-23|Smashing Pumpkins performance]] at Les Foufounes Électriques in 1991, Auf der Maur met and befriended [[Billy Corgan]]. She was 19 years of age at the time. During the performance, Auf der Maur's roommate heckled the band between songs and threw a beer bottle onstage while the band was performing, leading to "a strangling fist fight" between him and Corgan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/you-should-have-been-there/article4277853/?page=2|title=Live Concerts: 'You should have been there!'|work=[[w:The Globe and Mail|The Globe and Mail]]|publisher=[[w:The Woodbridge Company|The Woodbridge Company]]/[[w:Bell Canada|Bell Canada]]|date=June 26, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref> Auf der Maur explained: | |||
{{Cquote|My friend Bruce [Cawdron], who later became the drummer in [[w:Godspeed You! Black Emperor|Godspeed You! Black Emperor]], was there and he whispered, 'God, this guy has attitude. They're acting like they're playing an arena. And he then threw a bottle at Billy and shouted, 'Drop the fucking attitude!' Bill dived off the stage, put his hands around Bruce's neck, and they started fighting. I thought, 'Great. You just ruined the show.' I went up to Billy afterwards and said, 'I'd like to apologise on behalf of Montreal. You are my new favourite band.'<ref name="ReferenceA">''[[w:Q (magazine)|Q]]'', August 2004, p. 59</ref>}} | |||
Auf der Maur and Corgan became [[w:Pen pal|pen pals]] and dated each other in the early 90s. She credits him as her mentor and "spiritual fucking cowboy."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CthxcMdxgpi/|title=Melissa Auf der Maur on Bill Corgan introducing her to Courtney Love|website=Instagram|access-date=June 23, 2023|publisher=Fierce Women In Music with Lori Majewski}}</ref> Following months of no contact, Auf der Maur sent a letter to Corgan requesting that [[w:Tinker (band)|Tinker]] – a band she formed in 1993 – open for The Smashing Pumpkins during their next tour date in Montreal. Corgan accepted her request and Tinker performed the largest show of their career, to 2,500 people, opening for The Smashing Pumpkins at Métropolis on [[The Smashing Pumpkins 1993-11-30|November 30, 1993]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blurtonline.com/feature/into-the-twilight-zone-melissa-auf-der-maur-2|title=Into the Twilight Zone: Melissa Auf der Maur|work=[[w:Blurt (magazine)|Blurt]]|last=Hadadi|first=Roxana|date=June 2, 2010|access-date=June 8, 2014}}</ref> Corgan, Auf der Maur recalled, "patted me on the back. He said, 'You're a really good bass player. You're going to be in my band one day.' It felt like a dream come true – exactly the kind of confidence boost I needed."<ref name="ReferenceA" /> | |||
After the death of [[w:Kurt Cobain|Kurt Cobain]] and Hole's former bassist [[w:Kristen Pfaff|Kristen Pfaff]] two months later, [[Billy Corgan]] went to [[Courtney Love]]'s aid, encouraging her to tour after the release of 1994's [[w:Live Through This|''Live Through This'']], and recommending Auf der Maur as a replacement bassist.<ref name=":0" /> Tinker disbanded in summer 1994 after Auf der Maur accepted Love{{'}}s invitation to join Hole, a job she initially declined: | |||
{{Cquote|Billy called me and said, 'I'm coming through town on [1994's] [[Lollapalooza 1994|Lollapalooza]] next week. But the great news is, you're going to join my friend Courtney's band.' And that's when it all started ... Within a week, I had every friend calling me saying, 'Are you crazy?' My father said, 'What do you mean? The big Pumpkin guy offered you a real job in music and you said ''no?''' By that time, Courtney got my phone number and said, 'What do you mean, you don't want to join my band? You're getting on a plane to Seattle tomorrow.' And I did. She and [[w:Patty Schemel|Patty [Schemel]]] came to pick me up at the airport, and she was very funny, very sweet. And she was very good to me from day one. Very welcoming. She had all these lesbian nannies and assistants. There was a really cool, tight clan of mothering, care-taking lesbians. Everyone was very nice.'<ref name="ReferenceA"/>}} | |||
From 1994 to 1995, Auf der Maur toured worldwide with Hole in support of its second studio album, ''Live Through This'' (1994). Auf der Maur was featured on various Hole releases, including the 1996 non-album single "[[w:Gold Dust Woman#Interpretations|Gold Dust Woman]]" and on various live tracks on ''[[w:My Body, the Hand Grenade|My Body, the Hand Grenade]]'' (1997). She was featured on the band's third studio album, ''[[Celebrity Skin]]'' (1998), performing bass and co-composing five of the 12 songs. Following the tour in support of its release, Auf der Maur left Hole in October 1999 as her five-year contract with the band ended and she wished "to grow in many different directions".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/519301/melissa-auf-der-maur-leaves-hole|title=Melissa Auf der Maur Leaves Hole – Music, Celebrity and Artist News|work=[[w:MTV|MTV]]|publisher=[[w:Viacom Media Networks|Viacom Media Networks]]|date=October 25, 1999|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref> | |||
==The Smashing Pumpkins== | ==The Smashing Pumpkins== | ||
Original Smashing Pumpkins bassist [[D'arcy Wretzky]] left the band in September 1999 | Original Smashing Pumpkins bassist [[D'arcy Wretzky]] left the band in September 1999 during the recording of the band's fifth studio album, ''[[Machina/The Machines of God]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=950611|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011121320/http://billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=950611|title=D'Arcy Exits Smashing Pumpkins|work=[[w:Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[w:Prometheus Global Media|Prometheus Global Media]]|date=September 10, 1999|archivedate=October 11, 2007|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> In October 1999, Auf der Maur was recruited as her replacement by [[Billy Corgan]], with whom she was still friends from her time in Tinker and Hole. "Courtney knew I was leaving to make my solo project," she explained. "But then, coincidentally, the week that I left Hole was the week D'Arcy left the Pumpkins. So, within a week, Billy called me and said, 'The stars have aligned: it's time for you to join ''my'' band.' I ''had'' to do it."<ref name="ReferenceB">''[[w:Q (magazine)|Q]]'', August 2004, p60</ref> | ||
{{Cquote|It's been so generous of other people to lend themselves into something that's obviously such as close-knit family. And particularly with Melissa Auf der Maur, she's really sacrificed her whole year to keep this band going, so we owe her a lot.|author=Billy Corgan|source=''[[Graceful Swans of Never]]'' documentary}} | {{Cquote|It's been so generous of other people to lend themselves into something that's obviously such as close-knit family. And particularly with Melissa Auf der Maur, she's really sacrificed her whole year to keep this band going, so we owe her a lot.|author=Billy Corgan|source=''[[Graceful Swans of Never]]'' documentary}} | ||
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Auf der Maur was featured on neither ''Machina/The Machines of God'' nor ''[[Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music]]'' (2000) as Wretzky's remaining bass duties were assumed by Corgan during recording sessions. However she played with the Pumpkins during the [[Europe 1999-2000 tour|''Europe 1999-2000'']] and [[Resume the Pose tour|''Resume the Pose'']] tours, and final [[The Sacred and Profane tour|''The Sacred and Profane'' tour]] before the band broke up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/07/for_your_sunday_night_listenin.php|title=For Your Excessive Heat Warning Listening Pleasure: Smashing Pumpkins at Bronco Bowl|work=[[w:Dallas Observer|Dallas Observer]]|publisher=[[w:Voice Media Group|Voice Media Group]]|last=Wilonsky|first=Robert|date=July 31, 2011|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> The tour covered North America, Japan and Europe and was described by Auf der Maur as "very ambitious". Reflecting on the tour, she said: "they would always be changing arrangements and keys of songs. The work ethic of the Pumpkins is so full-on and so demanding ... joining [the band] was just intense work, much more about work than about emotional experience".<ref name="asm" /> She performed at various shows, including the band's final television performance on ''[[w:The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' and the band's final show at the [[Cabaret Metro]] in Chicago on [[The Smashing Pumpkins 2000-12-02|December 2, 2000]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/smashingpumpkins/articles/story/5918770/smashing_pumpkins_look_back_in_wonder|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909113134/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/smashingpumpkins/articles/story/5918770/smashing_pumpkins_look_back_in_wonder|title=Smashing Pumpkins Look Back in Wonder|work=[[w:Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone]]|publisher=Wenner Media|last=Fricke|first=David|authorlink=w:David Fricke|date=December 22, 2000|archivedate=September 9, 2009|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> as well as appearing in the band's music videos. Smashing Pumpkins broke up at the end of the year 2000. | Auf der Maur was featured on neither ''Machina/The Machines of God'' nor ''[[Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music]]'' (2000) as Wretzky's remaining bass duties were assumed by Corgan during recording sessions. However she played with the Pumpkins during the [[Europe 1999-2000 tour|''Europe 1999-2000'']] and [[Resume the Pose tour|''Resume the Pose'']] tours, and final [[The Sacred and Profane tour|''The Sacred and Profane'' tour]] before the band broke up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/07/for_your_sunday_night_listenin.php|title=For Your Excessive Heat Warning Listening Pleasure: Smashing Pumpkins at Bronco Bowl|work=[[w:Dallas Observer|Dallas Observer]]|publisher=[[w:Voice Media Group|Voice Media Group]]|last=Wilonsky|first=Robert|date=July 31, 2011|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> The tour covered North America, Japan and Europe and was described by Auf der Maur as "very ambitious". Reflecting on the tour, she said: "they would always be changing arrangements and keys of songs. The work ethic of the Pumpkins is so full-on and so demanding ... joining [the band] was just intense work, much more about work than about emotional experience".<ref name="asm" /> She performed at various shows, including the band's final television performance on ''[[w:The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' and the band's final show at the [[Cabaret Metro]] in Chicago on [[The Smashing Pumpkins 2000-12-02|December 2, 2000]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/smashingpumpkins/articles/story/5918770/smashing_pumpkins_look_back_in_wonder|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909113134/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/smashingpumpkins/articles/story/5918770/smashing_pumpkins_look_back_in_wonder|title=Smashing Pumpkins Look Back in Wonder|work=[[w:Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone]]|publisher=Wenner Media|last=Fricke|first=David|authorlink=w:David Fricke|date=December 22, 2000|archivedate=September 9, 2009|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> as well as appearing in the band's music videos. Smashing Pumpkins broke up at the end of the year 2000. | ||
In February 2006, MTV reported that Corgan and drummer [[Jimmy Chamberlin]] had signed a new management deal with Azoff Management, with a spokesperson confirming they had signed under The Smashing Pumpkins moniker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1523078/20060202/smashing_pumpkins.jhtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221072654/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1523078/20060202/smashing_pumpkins.jhtml|title=Smashing Pumpkins Reunion is Under Way, According to Sources – Music, Celebrity and Artist News|work=[[w:MTV|MTV]]|publisher=[[w:Viacom Media Networks|Viacom Media Networks]]|last1=Harris|last2=Perez|first1=Chris|first2=Rodrigo|date=February 2, 2006|archivedate=December 21, 2010|accessdate=March 2, 2011}}</ref> In response, Auf der Maur said in a separate interview that "as long as Billy has Jimmy, he can make the essential Pumpkins record, I'm sure" and when asked of her involvement said she was not planning on participating in the reunion but noted that her "services are always there to play [her] favorite songs. If D'arcy is not available, I'm always happy to be second in line".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59820/corgan-chamberlin-revive-smashing-pumpkins|title=Corgan, Chamberlin Revive Smashing Pumpkins|work=[[w:Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[w:Prometheus Global Media|Prometheus Global Media]]|date=February 3, 2006|accessdate=March 2, 2011}}</ref> Despite her earlier interest and Wretzky's absence, ''The Globe and Mail'' reported in April 2007 | In February 2006, MTV reported that Corgan and drummer [[Jimmy Chamberlin]] had signed a new management deal with Azoff Management, with a spokesperson confirming they had signed under The Smashing Pumpkins moniker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1523078/20060202/smashing_pumpkins.jhtml|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221072654/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1523078/20060202/smashing_pumpkins.jhtml|title=Smashing Pumpkins Reunion is Under Way, According to Sources – Music, Celebrity and Artist News|work=[[w:MTV|MTV]]|publisher=[[w:Viacom Media Networks|Viacom Media Networks]]|last1=Harris|last2=Perez|first1=Chris|first2=Rodrigo|date=February 2, 2006|archivedate=December 21, 2010|accessdate=March 2, 2011}}</ref> In response, Auf der Maur said in a separate interview that "as long as Billy has Jimmy, he can make the essential Pumpkins record, I'm sure" and when asked of her involvement said she was not planning on participating in the reunion but noted that her "services are always there to play [her] favorite songs. If D'arcy is not available, I'm always happy to be second in line".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59820/corgan-chamberlin-revive-smashing-pumpkins|title=Corgan, Chamberlin Revive Smashing Pumpkins|work=[[w:Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[w:Prometheus Global Media|Prometheus Global Media]]|date=February 3, 2006|accessdate=March 2, 2011}}</ref> Despite her earlier interest and Wretzky's absence, ''The Globe and Mail'' reported in April 2007 that Auf Der Maur confirmed she would not be rejoining The Smashing Pumpkins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/movers-and-shakers-in-canadian-arts/article17995076|title=Movers and shakers in Canadian arts|work=[[w:The Globe and Mail|The Globe and Mail]]|publisher=[[w:The Woodbridge Company|The Woodbridge Company]]/[[w:Bell Canada|Bell Canada]]|date=April 23, 2007|accessdate=June 9, 2014}}</ref> | ||
== Discography == | == Discography == | ||