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The Smashing Pumpkins are down to two guitarists following the resignation of Jeff Schroeder, who's been with them for the past 16 years.
Schroeder explains in a post on the band's social media that he "decided to leave the band to make some space and explore a slightly different path." He tells the story of how he came to join the band while working on his doctorate in comparative literature at UCLA, noting that "the opportunity seemed to come out of nowhere."
He calls joining the band "one of the best decisions I've made in my life," and says leaving was "a very difficult decision to make." He thanks Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, James Iha and Jack Blake "for being both wonderful bandmates and even better friends." He says he will "miss sharing the stage" with them, and wishes them "all the success in the future."
In a joint statement on Twitter, Corgan, Chamberlin and Iha write, "Words can not express our gratitude and appreciation for the friend he is, and being there for SP in the good times and the tough times, too."
Corgan and Iha are the band's remaining guitarists. There's no word yet as to whether they plan to replace Schroeder in the lineup.