Mike Garson

From SPCodex, The Smashing Pumpkins wiki
Mike Garson
Garson in Paris, 2006
Background information
Birth nameMichael David Garson
Born (1945-07-29) July 29, 1945 (age 78)
New York City
ArtistsThe Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, James Iha
RolePiano, keyboards
Websitemikegarson.com
WikipediaMike 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]

The Smashing Pumpkins[edit | edit source]

Jimmy Chamberlin Complex[edit | edit source]

James Iha[edit | edit source]

Touring stats

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Rubin, Joel. "A family watched their homes burn on TV, one after another". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  2. Hatfield, Amanda. "Bowie collaborator Mike Garson's home & studio destroyed in California fire". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved July 29, 2021.