Smashing Pumpkins' Drummer Auditions Documented in Video

Posted on Nov 19th 2009 4:00PM by Adam Horne
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Back in September, we reported that Billy Corgan had found a replacement for original Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin after a quick open casting call. Corgan's choice of 19-year-old Portland, Ore. native Mike Byrne came as a huge surprise -- but in the following video, we're given a glimpse into the audition process that resulted in the eyebrow-raising pick.

The documentary footage shows the wide-eyed teenager living out the thrill of a lifetime as viewers are made witness to the birth of a musical relationship.

The candid footage comes courtesy of the David Lynch Foundation, a non-profit artist promotion network, film house and meditation advocacy group founded by the controversial filmmaker. Lynch, whose dark, dreamlike work has plenty in common with the Pumpkins' musical output, is a noted fan of Corgan's. "Billy Corgan is a Magical Musician-a singer-songwriter with his own unique voice and way," he says. "A deep honest coolness emerges every time and his music has big lasting power."

This documentary short is not the first item the two artists have in common. Back in 1997, Corgan penned a song for Lynch's film 'Lost Highway,' a story he shares in the interview portion of the video. Without giving too much away, let's just say Shaquille O'Neal is involved. Have a look below.