Linda Strawberry comments on Chamberlin's "departure" from Smashing Pumpkins

Earlier today, Linda Strawberry (famed Corgan hanger-on and 'artist') thought it wise to join in the contentious discussion, on The Smashing Pumpkins' Official Message Board, following the publication of the exposé, Billy requested, in this months' Rolling Stone.  She then saw fit to remove her comments...  

However, living in this day in age, nothing is deleted from the internet;

She first posted

... [Jimmy] battles alot of demons. It was hard to be away from his gorgeous wife and kids. The 'dream' of what its like to tour and do all of that is nothing like the reality... I also think the 'road' makes it near impossible for you if you are battling old demons - so its probably not the best place to spend your time if you wanna stay sober...

Followed shortly by,

...if you just profile [Jimmy] = here's a guy who lived on the very outer edge for years - raced fast cars - has died and come back to life - overdosed - done everything imaginable - um.. of course he has a destructive streak! everyone knows that. the stories about jimmy are legendary on par with any other rock legend. its amazing he is still alive!... It's the hardest thing to go from that to sober, stable, married father. Of course he's going to face some major ups and downs.

What exactly the purpose of these comments were, seems somewhat unclear... There seems to be a leaning towards suggesting that Jimmy had or was relapsing?

Fired or not from the Smashing Pumpkins, one can only surmise that Jimmy is glad to be away from the kind of people who speculate & insinuate things about his personal life, so freely and thoughtlessly, in the public arena.

(Update 19:17 - 07/03/10)
Stawberry is back on the Smashing Pumpkins message board, and states ;

I was in no way implying Jimmy had relapsed leading up to him departing SP. 

So there.

Geek Blog, Blogs Geek

http://neugeek.com/geeker/the-smashing-pumpkins-geek-u-s-a-live/

Smashing Pumpkins Fuck You

"Fuck You [Jimmy Chamberlin]" - Billy Corgan

So we finally get the other side of the story on why Jimmy [left] the Pumpkins, again in 2009...

In the newest issue of Rolling Stone (preview here), Billy, takes a little pop at former drummer  (as well as the rest of the original SP line-up) and musical soulmate Jimmy Chamberlin,

“Jimmy is a destructive human being, and people who are destructive break things,” Corgan says. “I don’t see me reaching the highest levels of my creativity if I’m unhealthy and if I have unhealthy people around me.[...]” After Corgan told Chamberlin he was out...I was like, ‘Fuck you,’”, Corgan recalls. “‘Go ride around in a white van for the rest of your life.”

Jimmy clearly has a slighly different perspective;

Chamberlin becomes apoplectic when he hears Corgan’s account. “In the middle of the last tour, Billy said it was the agent’s fault, then it was the band’s fault, then it was the fans’ fault,” the drummer says. “Yes, in the past, I was a destructive human being. I was a complete drug addict and a complete loose cannon, but I’ve taken responsibility for my life.” "In the grand scheme of things" he adds... it's a few Gold records and a bunch of money... I have a wife and kids and I am completely happy"

Jimmy's sentiments have been borne out in his recent clinic appearances (here and here) and in his statement when he left; where he wishes Billy all the best, and contrary to Corgan of his Jimmy's ideas, quite happily accepts Corgan's definition and pursuit of 'happiness/success'.

Updated 28 November 2011: Corgan makes an indirect apology for these comments; they were 'just the ugliness that goes with breaking up'

Gannin Arnold Live

Watch Gannin Arnold perform LIVE here on Drum Channel at 6:00 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 2nd. 

Featuring Taylor Hawkins and Chris Chaney. With guests Drew Hester and host Terry Bozzio.

Promoting his new record, yeah.

Sounds good to me.

(update 02/03/10 - this in on in 4 hours folks... 2 AM in the morning here :( )