JAMES IHA ON RECORDING MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS: “I WAS THERE AND I WAS DOING…STUFF”
Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha was recently interviewed by Fuse.TV and he discussed the reissue of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. When asked about the songs on the set including demos, Iha said the following:
“Well, we did a lot of demos. A lot of rehearsals. Well, obviously, in order to do a two-CD album you have to do a lot of this stuff. It’s hard for me to remember, honestly. Looking at [the bonus track list] and I’m kind of like, hmm. I recognize the song titles and have this feeling of being there and doing stuff but I couldn’t tell you about it. It was awhile ago. Probably ’95. You know, we’d be in the studio for six months and then on tour for 14 months. It’s just this bubble, this crazy schedule. So I don’t remember. But I was there. And I was doing… stuff [Laughs].
I used to kinda feel sorry for James Iha in the Pumpkins but then I thought…guitarist in big rock band, touring the world…
Can’t really blame the guy. I can’t remember what happened 95 minutes ago never mind 1995….
Hey Brett and GR people, here is a french interview with James in which he speaks more than he ever has about his relationship with SP and most importantly Billy. The reporter asks him how he feels when Billy calls him “The worse human being he ever met” and some other very interesting stuff.
So for those of you who speak french, here’s the link:
http://www.telerama.fr/musique/james-iha-les-smashing-pumpkins-avaient-le-feu-sacre,90171.php
I can translate it for you, just I’m no english speaker and it might be approximate.
^^ Thanks for the link man
No problem. I guess maybe James was more open to talk bout Billy because it was a french interview. Nevertheless he put the link to the interview himself on his facebook page.
“But I was there. And I was doing… stuff”
He must be the least passionate person I can think of.
@TC
surprisingly he is quite good in writing and singing deep emotions… maybe it’s the only way out of him haha! :-p
Translate it, email to grungereport @yahoo.com
I think I probably know more about the Mellon Collie recording sessions than this guy…
Hit it using Chrome. It should prompt you to translate. You can get the general jist of the convo.
After listening to the MCIS reissue, a lot of the demos, etc. are just Billy. Not a surprise. I’m glad they included an early version of One and Two, as it’s one of the better James songs.
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