Some of JC's Snares

I was looking through some old archived stuff just now and found this list from June 15 2005, when Chamberlin auctioned off some of his old snare drums.



(above, the Jimmy Chamberlin Signature Snare)
Here be the list;

# 17-60’s Ludwig Supra- Phonic 400 5.5 x14 Chrome / Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness/ Tonight Tonight , Bullet with Butterfly Wings
# 19-Ludwig Black Beauty Reissue 5.5 x 14 / Mellon Collie / 1979
# 12-Yamaha Copper Shell 5.5 x 14 / Machina Tour
# 11--70’s Ludwig Hammered Brass 6.5 x 14 / Machina / Cash Car Star
# 13-Late 90’s Noble & Cooley 3.5 x14 / Machina / The Sacred and Profane
# 07-93- 94 Brady wood 4 x 14
# 14-95-96 Yamaha Maple Custom 3 x 13 Piccolo / Custom gold paint/ Mellon Collie Tour
# 15-50’s Ludwig “WFL” student model wood shell / silver oyster finish/ 6.5 x 14
# 10-Ludwig Black Beauty reissue 3 x 13 Piccolo / customized with Yamaha YESS mount/ Machina tour
# 08-Paiste “ Spirit of 2002” by Jeff Ocheltree Cymbal Alloy Shell/ Machina ii/ Untitled
# 09-Yamaha Acrylic FRP 5 x 14 Green / Machina / Blue Skies bring Tears
# 20-90’s DW Maple Shell/ Zebra/ Wildwood finish 8 x 14
# 04-98 DW Solid Shell by J. Craviotto (signed and dated inside) 5.5 x 14
# 05-Ludwig Black Beauty Reissue 6.5 x 14 / Machina / Everlasting Gaze !
# 03-Early 90’s Brady wood 6 x 12 / Machina / Try Try Try
# 02-Early 70’s Rogers Chrome 5.5 x 14
# 18 -Yamaha Recording Series Chrome 5.5 x 14
# 24- 70's Ludwig Super- Sensitive Black Beauty w/ scroll work 5.5 x 14 / Machina / Heavy Metal Machine
# 28-Early 70’s Gretsch 5.5 x 14 Chrome
# 29-97 DW by J. Craviotto Oak w/ gold hardware ( signed and dated inside) 5.5 x 14
# 23-Late 90’s Premier Signia Maple Shell w/ Maple Hoops and Gold Hardware 5.5 x 14
# 27-50’s ? Gretsch 6 lug Wood w/ wood hoops 6.5 x 14
# 25-40’s ? WFL 6 lug Wood w/ wood hoops 10 x 14 Marching
# 21-66 Ludwig Student Model 6 lug wood 5.5 x 14
# 06-Early 70’s Slingerland Chrome 5.5 x 14
# 22-Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute 4 x 14
# 16-Ludwig Black Beauty Reissue 5.5 x 14 / Mellon Collie / Zero
# 25- Pearl Free Floating Chrome 6.5 x 14

I was hoping to get a hold of the “ Spirit of 2002” by Jeff Ocheltree Cymbal Alloy Shell, but Jimmy gave it to someone else - boo.

News is slow...

Well there's been nothing more to report on the Starlight Orchestra since Jimmy finished-up his appearances at the 'Zildjin on Tour' sessions...

So here's a video:



That is all. Sorry.

The Starlight Orchestra...

Bad news for Complex fans, good news for Fans of Barry Manilow!

More news in from the Zildjin on Tour, Tour. Netphorian werideatdusk writes;

I was at the Drum Pad in Palatine...I asked [Jimmy] if he was doing another Complex record, and he simply shook his head.

werideatduck continues "[Jimmy] seemed very excited for his new project, the Starlight Orchestra, which he described as “orchestral pop” that borrows from Queen, ELO, Yes, and Pink Floyd. He concluded by describing it as a “drummier Pink Floyd” with strings, or “Barry Manilow if it didn’t suck”.

Sounds good to me. werideatduck tries to remember the name of the guy Jimmy is working with, but fails. However, he does provide us sleuths with a very helpful insight; "I think Jimmy said he has collaborated with Rufus Wainwright."

Now, if we combine 'collaborated with Rufus Wainwright' with the name John and you get two results, using the amazing powers of wiki' to search Wainwright collaborators named John. The first that fits the bill, pianist & big band composer & arranger John Oddo. This would certainly fit with the big band swing aspect that we've heard rumours of.

However

the second John, or should that be Jon, is none other than "multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer" Jon Brion. Who's extensive résumé would easily cover the bill... And considering that Chamberlin stated that he wanted to work with him back in 2007, in an interview with Modern Drummer. I think we've found our man!



EXCITING!

Pumpkins Return to Their Patch...

With 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' a 44 Song album to be released for free, a song at a time - holding true to what Jimmy said back in March 2008: "I don't think we will make records again... The Pumpkins... will probably start releasing songs [rather than albums]." Chamberlin continued, "It's just in our best interest to release blocks of songs. And I think what we'll do...is to create the framework where we can release a number of songs and maybe create a title. We can gather three or four songs, but it will all flow up to a larger body of work."

"The music of 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' harkens back to the original psychedelic roots of The Smashing Pumpkins: atmospheric, melodic, heavy, and pretty. " Recording began on the 15th, in Pumpkinland 2.0. Lets keep our fingers crossed that they can pull it off without JC.

A band is only as good as its drummer...

The drumming gets better as the plot thickens...

Netphorian 'legend' Davin met JC at the weekend, this is what Jimmy had to say about the music to come;

"The new stuff, drumming-wise, will far exceed the work on Zeitgeist. 'Even United States?' [Davin] asked. 'Oh yeah' [Jimmy] responded confidently".

However, HU updates their earlier post [reported here] stating; "A source close to Chamberlin says that the tale Jimmy told to our readers [about the Starlight Orchestra] is 'all b.s.'"



Courtesy of archive.org
United States by The Smashing Pumpkins, Live at Massey Hall on 2008-11-03 :

MYSTERY PROJECT

"...for those who like real dance music..."

According to fans who attended the aforementioned "'Zildjin on Tour!' events, Chamberlin could be shuffling the skins for the Starlight Orchestra.

Their minimalistic and super retro website is something to behold.

Below a clip of Les Brown's 'Bizet Has His Day' played by, to my knowledge, the only 'Starlight Orchestra' currently operating out of DC;



However, readers over at HU are reported as saying "Chamberlin cited Queen, among other influences, as a reference point for the band’s sound" - which makes it seem highly improbable that the Starlight Orchestra linked above - is the outfit JC is playing with.

But I guess anything is possible with Big Band:

Jimmy Chamberlin Update

Reporting back from the recent "Zildjian On Tour!" appearances, this just in;

"[Jimmy said] he is doing a project with strings and is a big band/swing type thing with a record coming out early next year [2010] and a full tour. [Jimmy Chamberlin] Complex stuff hopefully after that." from, this source, right here