Smashing Pumpkins reveal new guitarist after receiving over 10,000 public applications

nme.com:

The Smashing Pumpkins have revealed their new guitarist after receiving over 10,000 public applications to fill in the spot.At the beginning of the year, frontman Billy Corgan launched a search for an additional guitarist and anyone interested was encouraged to apply.

The call for guitarists generated over 10,000 applications. The position came up after longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder announced that was leaving the band last October.After narrowing down the applications, a small group of finalists auditioned for the position in person in Los Angeles last month.

The iconic alternative rock band chose veteran session musician and Youtube sensation Kiki Wong as their new guitarist.Wong has performed with Taylor Swift at the 2014 VMA’s, Usher at CBS’s Fashion Rocks Fall 2014 and was the lead guitarist for Bret Michaels in a commercial for Nissan.

She has also performed with rock bands Nylon Pink, Hellfire Heart, and currently, Vigil of War.The veteran guitarist has 210,000 subscribers on YouTube, 1.3million followers on TikTok and 667K followers on Instagram.Speaking about choosing Wong as their new guitarist in a statement, Corgan said: “Reviewing the work of these incredible musicians was a herculean, albeit worthy effort.