Jim DeRogatis re-posted Billy Corgan's latest web manifesto, and while I haven't been contacted in any way regarding the drummer auditions that are apparently starting on Tuesday, that apparently doesn't mean the end:

We've received a staggering amount of submissions so far (over 1,000!), so let me say to everyone who has submitted thank you and God Bless you for having the courage to throw your name out there. The auditions on the 14th are just the first round of trying people out. There is no 'hurry' at the moment, as I'm not quite ready to record yet, and it's possible I may need more than one drummer for what my plans are. So for someone who may think they would never get a chance there is still time in the months ahead to keep trying. I view it as a process to find the right person(s) and it's important that the right consideration is given.

That first sentence is exactly what I expected from this process -- a statement that could read as a thinly veiled message to Jimmy Chamberlin about how many other people DO want to be in Billy's band, thankyouverymuch.

Now that I have such copious amounts of free time, it would be in my best interests to maybe make some inquiries and see if I have any sort of musical networking mojo left.

As some of you may have heard, Billy Corgan put out an open call to replace Jimmy Chamberlin in Smashing Pumpkins now that Chamberlin has left the band.

Part of me thinks this is a PR stunt so Billy can validate his rock star status by citing the number of e-mails he receives from potential drummers. Part of me thinks I'm way too old for this shit.

But at this point, it would be stupid not to at least throw my hat in the very large ring Billy has put out there. I sent an e-mail with my musical history and links to MP3s and all that yesterday. For all the well-wishing -- which I definitely appreciate -- this doesn't really strike me as all that bold. If I'm selected to audition in Los Angeles next week, then this is for real, but until then, it's just a crazy notion.

Still, why the hell not? I still feel like I bring something to the table, musically, and suffice it to say, this would be pretty much a perfect answer to the midlife crisis I've been mired in for the last year or so, provided Corgan isn't going through his own that necessitates a younger model backing him up. And it's got me listening to old recordings I've made, which has been a fun, nostalgic exercise.

I've neglected this part of the site, so let me remedy that with a live audience video of Andrew Fraker & Sons, the one original project I'm currently involved in. You'll have to take my word for it that it's me back there. It's kinda dark once you get past the guys with the guitars, at least until the little freakout at the end.

What I like about the first tune is that it actually screamed out for the cowbell in the bridge and at the very end, to the point where I had to go out and buy one. It's not often that a song actually needs cowbell.