Jimmy Chamberlin and Mike Reina talk SKYSAW, Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, SP Archives and... Mike Byrne
Special thanks to John Prinzo we've got a couple of your questions answered below.
Check out his site or the suburbanapologist.com for the full interview. The whole thing is most definitely worth a read.
The typical trajectory of a band starting off is to tour then record – how does it feel to turn that concept on its head?
MR: It’s interesting to construct tightly wound songs and then go looking for the places where they can stretch out a bit live.
Who put together the orchestral arrangement on “Am I Second?”
MR: Jimmy wrote the orchestral arrangement, Anthony transcribed it and we recorded it at my place.
How many songs have you recorded as SkySaw? MR: Eleven – I think and demoed probably 12-15 others.
What was Roy Thomas Baker’s involvement with the record?
JC: We worked with Roy early on. Jimmy sent him “No One Can Tell” and asked if he wanted to be involved. He loved the song and came out to my place to work with us for two weeks. After the first two weeks we decided to remain insular and produce the record ourselves. We started from scratch and continued working together as we had previous to our stint with Roy. He was hilarious, by the way.
Have you changed up your kit for SkySaw? I noticed a few pictures that didn’t seem to have the left mounted 14” tom or quite as many cymbals. If so, is this a reflection of your approach to this sound or brand of music?
JC: I moved things around for one show. My configuration is the same.
(DP: The drummer for the Constellations, who are joining Minus the Bear and Skysaw on tour tweets: "Wanted 2 clarify-he's still using yellow Yamahas while his DW kit is being made."
What is the name of this song…
…and will it see a release?
JC: “Cathedral.” It is fairly new, not yet recorded and will be on the next release following Great Civilizations
Rumors are that the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex had a couple of tracks in the works, details?
JC: The complex lives and will rise up again at some point. Mohler and I started working on stuff before I left the Pumpkins and we continue to do so. It’s really just a time issue. We are both very busy these days.
What, if anything, can you say about the upcoming Smashing Pumpkin re-masters and re-releases?
JC: I am very excited. Those records are sacred to me and I’m thrilled that they will be Repackaged and marketed to another generation. The Pumpkins still have a lot to offer, old and new I’m sure.
As a respected musician and accomplished drummer, what is your summation of Mike Byrne? Ya know, if you were evaluating him or grading him or just your opinion.
JC: I think Mike is perfect for what Billy is doing now; a great drummer with an extremely bright future.
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Again, check out the full interview right, here
"Mase talks it up with former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin about his new band SKYSAW...playing clubs again and ripping off his own drum parts. "
Just having a listen now...
EDIT:
Skysaw is not about making a hit record... it’s about having fun
Chamberlin clarifies his statement in the recent SPIN magazine interview "I've learned that you can call it a band, but unless everyone is contributing it's not really” and says that this doesn’t apply to his time in the Pumpkins; in particular with his song-writing relationship with Billy.
With regards to recording: JC recorded the drums, bass, guitar and vocals to tape – loaded to pro-tools for mixing; “24 Tracks just wasn’t enough”.
In terms of Roy Thomas Baker, it appears his presence was a little ‘imposing’; “Mike and Anthony were a little freaked out”; the sounds he was getting were ‘bigger than the band...he brings more than just his Rolls Royce to the studio” and they didn’t actually end up using any of the tracks recorded with RTB on this record, but he hopes to record again in the future with him and his “stamp” is all over Great Civilizations.
They talked briefly about the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, writing, recording, and mixing in 40 days... nothing about anything new from them (JC and Billy Mohler) though...
With regards to hitting the club scene again; the feeling of playing doesn’t change whether or not you’re getting your drums out of the back of a (white?) van and setting them up yourself and if you’re a millionaire getting a massage before a show. It’s the same experience; just as long as people are having a good time.
With regards to the Pumpkins; JC left it in the immortal words of D’arcy; “being in the Pumpkins, was like being in a marriage with 3 people you wouldn’t even consider dating”.
SP ARCHIVES UPDATE:
JC is not involved at all, other than giving it the green light.
Another great show last night in Jacksonville, Fl. with "minus the bear" and our new opener, " the constellations", who were great BTW. Our show opened with No One Can Tell and the crowd was immediately into it and with us for the duration. Here is the setlist per your requests.
NOCT
Capsized Am I Second
Great Civilizations
Tightrope
All I Hear is Snow
Serrated
Cathedral
It was hot as heck but I felt like the band played great and the crowd was super into it. I'm so happy to be able to do this type of playing. Small clubs are great places to grow your garden with the fans providing sunshine, air and water. Looking forward to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow night! Today is a day off. We are going to relax by the ocean and work on some arrangements. Thanks to all for another great time in music!
