Drumming For The Smashing Pumpkins .. How I Got The Gig. Kenny Aronoff on Sunset Sound Roundtable

[@Motownisyourtown]

Wow this guy gets it. What a refreshing interview. Absolutely loved it. Thanks.

[@retinalblur]

The Adore tour is by far the best tour the Pumpkins have ever done, and Kenny was a huge part of that. My all time fav performance is MTVs 5 Night Stand at Sheppards Bush. Look it up on KZbin. Incredible show. Also, the Fox Theater show Kenny mentions is great as well. Thanks for uploading this amazing interview!

[@kevinkappelman6227]

Kenny's enthusiasm is contagious. Great energy!

[@toddmusic]

Kenny -you CRUSHED that tour! I absolutely love the live recordings of the Adore tour. Very unique. Dark swelling jams, soft and then crazy intense. I would really love a live album collection. The KZbin concerts are fantastic.

[@litesaber54yi3]

Ive met Billy a few times so far in person and I can barely speak when i see him. He is one of my personal musical hero's. What an amazing musical genius,

[@magneto44]

you misspelled “egotistical jerk”

[@thenewholistic]

The Adore tour versions of that album is another whole animal, a whole new artistic creation. Who else does that but the Pumpkins? Adore as an album is a masterpiece. Then the live versions of almost all the songs were completely epic, jams and dynamic extended monsters... Just other worldly. There are "Adore Live" compilations on YT, but there could still be an official studio-curated Adore album of the live versions that would be too awesome.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

🔥🔥🔥

[@travistwelfthman]

Kenny is one of the greatest drummers and one of the coolest rock musicians and a super humble and low profile guy.

[@Brewkowsky07]

I saw that 1998 tour in Houston. About 10 rows from the stage, near the center. Kenny was killing it!!

[@TheSkydogsguitar]

Saw the Adore tour at the Fox Theater in Atlanta and it was the best Pumpkin's concert I've seen to this day and that includes the Siamese Dream and MCIS tours.

[@letmeadow4729]

EPIC INTERVIEW

[@zigzagrz]

I remember seeing Kenny back in the late 90s early 2000s and was really impressed with his style of drumming, hearing this confirms that he is one cool dude

[@peteshifter]

As a drummer myself, Jimmy Chamberlin is my absolute hero. I attended a Smashing Pumpkins show with Kenny. I have to say I left the arena after a few songs. The Pumpkins' feeling wasn't there. Because of what? Kenny? The Pumpkins as a whole? I don't know. But the heart of the Pumpkins wasn't there that night.

[@TC-lk2ev]

Sounds like when I saw mars volta 2 nights after they fired Jon theodore. It was the same band, but the soul was gone.

[@robertfoshizzle]

I'm also a drummer, albeit a drummer without an ounce of the talent or notoriety of Jimmy or Kenny. Both are great drummers -- I don't even think I could or would want to try to say one is better overall than the other, but Jimmy was/is the perfect drummer for the Pumpkins. Here's the thing -- a guy like Kenny can play ANYTHING, and he played those Pumpkins songs admirably. But he can't replace the years of chemistry Jimmy had with the band, nor the passion and emotion he has for music he helped write, record, tour, etc. for years. The blood, sweat, and tears, the feel for music you know intimately, just the overall fit... you can't just replace that. Not Kenny's fault, but I think he did about as well as anyone could. I doubt they could have found anyone who would be a 1-for-1 replacement for Jimmy, but Kenny was great. Assuming that you've played in bands, I'm sure you understand all of this, but just wanted to add my perspective.

[@akira_kei_]

In hindsight you clearly made the wrong choice.

[@fredriksvard2603]

I saw this live and i dont usually register drums or bassist, its all the same to me, but i vividly remember this drum performance.

[@apple4935]

Kenny talks as if he was a young, adoring fan of the Pumpkins who managed to work his way up to playing in a band he worshipped in school, but instead pretty much the opposite is true. Pretty wild.

[@demonicsweaters]

These KA vids are my favorite interviews I'm seen on this channel. I had never seen him talk this long, but he's such a character, entertaining, and just an awesome dude. Not to mention a great drummer.

[@letmeadow4729]

This was the greatest interview I've seen in a long while

[@breakabletape]

I saw the Pumpkins in Seoul in 2010. What a show.

[@Motownisyourtown]

Every band I’ve been in has always had an ethos that we’re in it together. Equal shares and equal say. But it seems more and more apparent to me that when you get big and you’re asked to join a big band like this, that it’s almost like getting your dream job. And you’re hired to do the job, and you could be fired from the job, because you have a manager. And the manager in this case was Billy Corgan.

[@BluesSky]

Although Jimmy is probably my favorite rock drummer (George Hurley, close second) Kennys playing with The Pumpkins was really great.

[@incarnateTheGreat]

The Fox Theatre show that Kenny talks about is indeed fantastic. Everything from the opening with To Sheila and how fantastic Thru the Eyes of Ruby was. Highly, highly recommend a listen. Fox Theatre, Atlanta. 1998.

[@psugrowler1]

Kenny the Beast. The Energizer Bunny . . . Never Stops.

[@kbsffan77]

I went to like 6 shows on that tour, it was fantastic.

[@PatchTM983]

All the love in the world to Kenny. What a trip to fill in the seat for such a legend as Jimmy. He did an amazing job.

[@hollylewis5302]

Another amazingly great interview! Drew...you're like an encyclopedia! Lol. Love it! Thank you!

[@akira_kei_]

Great interview! I loved Kenny's work during the Adore era, and I always wondered how he felt about working with the Pumpkins, especially during a hard time of their career. He expressed a lot of enthusiasm while playing with them (in music videos, live, etc.), so I had a feeling he was happy, but you know, a gig is a gig, and he's a professional with a lot of experience behind him. He's always going to bring his A-game, so maybe it was just another job... That's clearly not the case, though, and he looks back fondly on the years he spent with them. It's cool that they're still in touch too.

[@veerchasm1]

I loved the Adore era Pumpkins. Probably the best documented part of their live history. Kenny was great, but he was right, those other two percussionists were a waste

[@turdzillaatemysn]

i always assumed the adore tour was billys sarcastic / fed up answer to people wanting a loud sound of wall following MCIS & the poor reception of Adore. it was a “ you want loud, well give you loud. supersized adore”

[@whatdothlife4660]

@infoslinger Hard to make Machina when your drummer isn't in the band.

[@rickbeaudoin3426]

Wow!! Infectious & entertaining-this dude is a a player & a fan.

[@InflatableTube]

Adore was gorgeous. I saw that your at Universal Amphitheater. I loved how it started dark and quiet and kept building until a huge flash of light and the rock came in. Was a magical night.

[@bearclaw007]

Just saw Kenny about a month ago with John Fogarty on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa reservation. Great gig!

[@meliascr]

such a great drummer!!

[@CynthiaTomArtsandHealing]

Drew great interview! Is there more? I could listen to you both for another hour. 2 authentic people sharing fandom and side stories with unparalleled enthusiasm, it doesn't get better.

[@THEDEEPDIVE]

great interview.. Love his energy

[@katiec6935]

Love The Smashing Pumpkins Adore Album. Didn't know it was tracked at Sunset Sound.

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

I have Smashing pumpkins on the cover of Stomp and Stammer newsletter from last year.

[@alexandrohdez3982]

Humble guy 👏 and great drummer

[@Bodyknowledge77]

Kenny is a cool cat. I met him in 09' in NYC after a Fogerty gig. Hung out a bit, shot the shit, and signed a gig used drumstick! Thanks Kenny! I didn't write tunes then but I do now and to somehow someway have Kenny play on one of my tunes would be bitchn!:-)

[@davidcalderon5291]

Maybe at first glance. I knew the percussionist on that tour, RIP. Had nothing nice to say about KA and I believed him. Paul Schaefer-way cooler!

[@ryanjohnson985]

I’d ask him. You’d have to pay him his rate but I bet he’d do it.

[@Jellybeantiger]

My fav 90’s band.

[@laineesays2027]

Great interview- loved hearing the background. The Adore concert in Dublin was in the Olympia Theatre and I remember it being recorded as well as I think during To Shiela or another song you can hear an old friends name being shouted out in the audience during the quiet part

[@gsmith207]

Greatest advice from a master. Thanks for these. Even at 54 he inspires me to go beat my cans right now!

[@ianstu7]

This is amazing.

[@Radiotomb]

Saw them 3 times during the Adore tour.

[@DaleJamesFerrer]

Loved it! Cool interview! Kenny is one chill dude and a very talented drummer!

[@AdamF90]

I was 5 years old when Mellon Collie was released. Had it on tape cassette. I would stack piles of books and jars as a makeshift drum set and jam to the album beginning to end until my parents got me my first drum set. Jimmy Chamberlain is the reason I became a drummer. And Corgan wrote some of the most beautiful songs of all time on that album. And I’m a big Kenny Arnoff fan as well. It’s cool knowing he learned every Pumpkins song in preparation because even by the Adore era, their discography was prolific

[@TheSchwanze]

Video description says "Billy Morgan" - you might want to fix that :) Great vid, Kenny seems like a top dude

[@salvadorrosas7018]

Kenny is a very cool cat, great player.

[@lewisb85]

It took me a min to realise who he was. So he was the guy after matt walker? both were amazing drummers.

[@shuggabizkit3269]

Remember this dude in paper in fire?

[@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime]

Should have asked him why he dressed like he was on the Tour De France

[@skythemusic]

That’s funny that he initially thought Cherub Rock was on Gish.

[@chupacabra1817]

I thought this was just going to be a 10 second video with Kenny pointing at his dome.

[@bradb5044]

I love Jimmy C. The guy keeps time like a Swiss watch

[@andrewface]

I discovered the pumpkins in 1998 and didn't know anything about the JC overdose/original drummer at the time. The first time I saw them play live on TV I thought Kenny was the original drummer and he looked like the coolest person in the band.

[@KovertlyDrummatik]

I like hearing Kenny swear. Out of the Box and Onto the Stage was a Tama drum video that came with the kit's, and there was no swearing allowed in that shit. That's how I most know Kenny.

[@foodog777]

“Send us your resume.” 😳 SP pulled the same crap with Josh Freese post-Jimmy and asked him to fly to Chicago to audition on his own dime. Josh blew them off. I’m glad Kenny jumped through their hoops to audition in NYC and absolutely killed the SP gig though. Reference: “Nashville Scene” interview.

[@feramires]

Never happened

[@inthesand]

Was that for the Adore era tour or post Zeitgeist breakup? Damn, Josh would've been fantastic with the Pumpkins.

[@foodog777]

@@inthesand I believe the offer to Josh was in 1996 but Chicago native Matt Walker (no airfare required) finished the Mellon Collie tour on drums (1996-1997). Kenny toured for Adore in 1998.

[@ryanedwards4512]

I was wondering why he was talking up the smashing pumpkins on the axis channel

[@davidgriffin3477]

I'm not only a fan but I've also smashed more than my share of Dumpkins over the years. There is a strange love hate thing with these guys. I love to like them myself, but I can fight if I get in a pinch. Thanks to my older brother, God rest his soul.

[@caliskaterdrummer]

Behold the nightmare... was done on THAT piano? Sir I envy you❤️🎃

[@BIZARBIES]

Matt Walker was Jimmy Chamberlins replacement. He is a stellar drummer and plays drums on most of Adore, like 90%. Kenny got the gig with the Pumpkins because Matt left to do his own band, Cupcakes.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

What about Matt Cameron?

[@BIZARBIES]

@@Roundtablewithdrew he a great drummer too.

[@iliveinsin]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Matt Cameron played on For Martha, but essentially just re-recorded the same drum part that Matt Walker recorded beforehand. There is a bootleg version of the song floating around with Walker playing.

[@sadmachinesaudio6462]

I think he means Cliff Burnstein, not Sid.

[@jakebeaudrie]

At this point, I'm pretty sure he gets the gig because he's Kenny Aronoff.

[@michaelfowler3187]

I heard the name Matt chamberlain mentioned but I better hear about Matt walker!

[@drlarrymitchell]

Jesus...was Buddy Rich not answering his p[hone that day, or was the entrance to the cemetery cut off by construction cones?

[@nathanwalsh3028]

Kenny was the right dude for that gig... It's too bad Jimmy had to go off in the addiction land during that time. That's why kenny was brought in.

[@skottyo]

Pearl Jam ? Who? Lmao best answer EVER!!

[@travisbartley58]

Wait didn't Kenny used to play with John Mellancamp. If not got him confused with another bald drummer.

[@skythemusic]

That’s how he first got known.

[@jamesmason1347]

Lucky drummer

[@andybdrumming2191]

Did Kenny do a how I didn't get the gig w/Tom Petty episode? No pun intended but that would have broke my heart. Maybe he's too much of a hired gun and they were looking for more of a band mate and Steve Ferone fit the bill better.

[@saxmidiman]

"Smashing" for the Drumming Pumpkins, eh?🙃😁😎

[@robertosmith1]

Did he really learn every Smashing Pumpkin song in less than a month? I wonder

[@tomcook5813]

I miss D’arcy

[@energyasylum997]

Imagine in Kenny Aronoff and Billy Corgan made a band with Joe Satriani and Paul Schaffer !! The CueBallz! Lol. THEN ask Flea to bald his head and join the too!

[@johncollins5552]

I like Kenny but Jimmy was the best rock drummer of the nineties.

[@rabe7217]

I`m a much BIGGER fan of Kenny Aronoff than, I could ever be of Smashing Pumpkins

[@guitaristssuck8979]

Your loss lmao

[@mitchellmtb7202]

Really inspring they hired a blind drummer!

[@JOHNWILLIAMS-yw5iv]

He thought cherub rock was on gish......

[@ZVvereVvolf]

As soon as he said "Oh yeah Cherub Rock!?" I was done listening to this conversation. He played with them and doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about!?

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

See ya

[@dannycolverson6944]

I hated the adore tour. It had nothing to do with Kenny's drumming, which was fine and everything to do with the setlists. It made sense in the past to throw the old setlists out with each tour, because there was such an improvement in the songwriting, but with adore it was a backwards step. I liked adore, but it was incredibly disappointing after MCIS, which is a masterpiece. They should have played 4 or 5 songs from adore. I hated the gig I saw

[@adamfstewart81]

lol 'billy morgan'

[@JacksonAxe]

00:16:40 I'd have gotten fired for knocking you out, Kenny.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

?

[@JacksonAxe]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Star or not, you don't speak to people like that.

[@joemccambridge7704]

Im sure you did

[@JacksonAxe]

@@joemccambridge7704 Learn to read.

[@akira_kei_]

?

[@oansun]

Ava Adore bever sounded better live than with Kenny. Jimmy rules, of course and masters everything. But Jimmy never made Ava Adore sound AS amazing

[@foxote640]

cocaine

[@SonicVisionX]

Adore was NOT a pinnacle album. It was a letdown after what preceeded it.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

To each their own

[@SonicVisionX]

@@Roundtablewithdrew gish, siamese dream, melon collie...those were pinnacle Pumpkin albums.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

@@SonicVisionX you’re wrong

[@SonicVisionX]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Adore is not even in the same universe as the 3 previous records. The sales back up my claim.

[@guitaristssuck8979]

2 minutes in and there's already 2 unforgivable mistakes smh No Kenny, Matt Chamberlin was playing with Tori Amos in 1998, wtf No Kenny, you played Tonight, Tonight every night, not Today (played only once or twice during the Adore tour), so it makes 5 songs from Mellon Collie, not "3 from those records" The "radio thing" was the Joy Division cover, Transmission, never heard of Ian Curtis? Hey Kenny, if you have two percussionists at your sides who can't hear each other, why the hell do you bash those cymbals like there's no tomorrow? Hunger for guitars high frequencies?

[@tribeshift]

Plus he thought Cherub Rock was on Gish. Clearly a great drummer, but purely a session guy for hire, not a creative band member like Jimmy was and is.

[@guitaristssuck8979]

@@tribeshift yep, that's the first mistake right at the beginning

[@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime]

This guy was never a good fit for SP

[@guitaristssuck8979]

@@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime Matt Walker was better indeed, got the gig because he lost a drum stick during a song and finished it anyway

[@felipecavalera8729]

Relax man, that was a long long time ago, ppl cant even remember what they have for breakfast this morning. He is one of the best in the industry jeeeesssssuuusss

[@hazysativa3045]

Adore is not a pinnacle album.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

For us it is.

[@hazysativa3045]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Siamese Dream here. Adore was a flop, lost in an electronic mess.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

@@hazysativa3045 once upon a time is a masterpiece, behold the nightmare, Ava adore, to Sheila, some of the best writing ever. You’re obviously someone who just likes what they play on the radio. Awesome

[@hazysativa3045]

@@Roundtablewithdrew I met them in Madison Wi in 91 when I was staying with my cousin. They were recording Gish and played a few local shows. Later on a buddy of mine opened for them in Montreal on the Gish tour and I was there for that as well.. I am a huge SP fan. Just not a fan of that album at all. Billy wanted to express himself more in the Trent Reznor sounscape on this album and it misses the mark. Im glad you like it.

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

@@hazysativa3045 well you should say “I don’t think “Adore” is a pinnacle album”

[@pocojoyo]

LOL I always thought this guy was Jimmy Chamberlin but bald

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

😂😂😂😂