James Iha
Encyclopedia
James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist
and co-founder of the alternative rock
band The Smashing Pumpkins
and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent fixture of A Perfect Circle
. He was most recently a member of Tinted Windows
, a 60's/70's inspired group with members of Cheap Trick
, Fountains of Wayne
and Hanson
.
He also co-owns independent record label
Scratchie Records
with Adam Schlesinger
of Fountains of Wayne
and a recording studio with Schlesinger and Andy Chase of Ivy
called Stratosphere Sound
in Manhattan. Bands on the Scratchie label include The Sounds
, Albert Hammond Jr., and Office
.
Iha has produced songs, contributed guitar, sung and made remixes for acts the world over from lesser-knowns like L.A.'s Midnight Movies
to the Scottish singer Isobel Campbell
to Marilyn Manson
and Michael Stipe
. Iha currently lives in Manhattan
.
, which he described as "a boring, middle-class suburb
of Chicago." Iha received average grades in high school, and, after a successful two-year stint at a local junior college
, he majored in graphic design
at Loyola University Chicago
before dropping out to dedicate himself to the Smashing Pumpkins
.
He is a second-generation
Japanese-American and is able to speak only a little Japanese.
Like his former bandmate Billy Corgan
, Iha has a brother with a disability.
In 1987 Iha, then the guitarist for the Chicago
band Snake Train, met Billy Corgan
via a friend. Corgan had already been telling people he was in a band called "Smashing Pumpkins," and decided to make it a real band with Iha.
Iha later became romantically involved with the band's bassist D'arcy Wretzky
, but the couple broke up just prior to the band's performance at the Reading Festival in 1992. After a brief feud between the two, Iha sustained a friendly and close relationship with Wretzky, citing her as a best friend
.
Iha wrote and sang a number of Smashing Pumpkins' songs, such as, "Blew Away" on Pisces Iscariot
, "Bugg Superstar" on Vieuphoria
, "Take Me Down" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
, "...Said Sadly", "Believe", "The Boy", and "The Bells" on The Aeroplane Flies High
, "Summer" on the "Perfect" single and "Go" on Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music
. He co-wrote with Billy Corgan
"I Am One
" on Gish
, "Soma" and "Mayonaise
" on Siamese Dream
, "Plume" on Pisces Iscariot
and "Farewell and Goodnight" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. He also sang the band's covers of The Cure
's "A Night Like This
" and Syd Barrett
's "Terrapin." During his time with the Pumpkins, James also appeared on recordings with other bands, including Ivy
, to which Adam Schlesinger also contributes, and Swedish New Wave band The Sounds
.
Iha was often considered the "quiet one" in Smashing Pumpkins, but he was known to engage in ad-libbed jokes and rap sessions. His humor was encapsulated in his use of the catchphrase, "I've seen a million faces, and I've rocked them all," originally from the Bon Jovi
song "Wanted Dead or Alive
".
In 1998, Iha released a moderately successful solo album
, Let It Come Down, his only solo effort to date. One music video
was produced from this album, for the song "Be Strong Now
", which was also released as a four-track single
.
When his former bandmates Billy Corgan
and Jimmy Chamberlin
revived the "Smashing Pumpkins" name, James did not participate, and in fact has not spoken to Corgan in years. Corgan stated in a 2008 blog
entry that when he and Chamberlin reunited, the "door was open" for Iha to rejoin, but he declined, and Corgan said that he "can now say definitively that [Iha isn't] ever coming back."
's Pneumonia
released in 2001 and further guest appearances for bands Ivy
and Fountains of Wayne
, both of which he remained close to, appearing on virtually every release by both bands since 1997. Andy Chase
of Ivy, and Adam Schlesinger
of both Ivy and Fountains, appeared on most songs James produced or wrote for other artists. Schlesinger first appeared on Iha's song on "The Bells
" by The Smashing Pumpkins
.
Iha made bigger news when he joined the alternative rock supergroup A Perfect Circle
in July 2003 in time for their Thirteenth Step
club tour. He has since appeared on their 2004 album eMOTIVe
as well as contributed remixes of Blue and Outsider, and is back with the band following its near 6 year long hiatus. In 2003, he joined Vanessa and the O's
. The group released an EP
Plus Rien in Sweden the same year and followed up with the album La Ballade d'O in 2005–2006 on the bands own label RushmoreRecordings playing live shows in Sweden during the summer of 2005.
More recently, Iha has collaborated on musical and fashion design
projects in Japan. He collaborated on and produced two tracks with Japanese musician Chara
for her 2001 album Madrigal called "Boku ni Utsushite" and "Skirt." The latter was accompanied by a music video
featuring Iha as a hunter in a forest. With the help of longtime friend and manager Isao Izutsu, Iha also started the clothing label Vapor in 2001, and recorded "Never Ever," his first solo song since the Smashing Pumpkins
's demise for Vapor's first runway show.
In 2001 James played live with The Blank Theory
and appeared on their album Beyond the Calm of the Corridor
producing the song "Addicted" together with Schlesinger and contributing guitar playing.
went on hiatus and James spent much of the year DJing
exclusive parties in New York.
Iha scored the Japanese film Linda, Linda, Linda, released in late summer of 2005. The same year he teamed with Schlesinger
again to produce a duet cover of Bobby Darin
's "Splish Splash
" for the soundtrack to the Wayne Wang
film Because of Winn-Dixie
. The same year Iha contributed guitar
to some tracks of Chino Moreno
's band Team Sleep
sophomore album, which has yet to be released.
Iha produced two tracks on the 2006 tribute album to Serge Gainsbourg
, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
, "I love you (me either)," that featured Cat Power
and model Karen Elson
singing and "L'Hotel" with Michael Stipe
on vocals. Iha also appeared on the track "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
" in a duets with singer Kazu Makino (of Blonde Redhead
) on the US edition of the album.
In February 2006, a digital EP
"In the Sun
" produced by Iha featuring Michael Stipe
and Chris Martin
was released. The EP
was for the benefit of Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina
. The song was featured on an episode of Grey's Anatomy
. Also in collaboration with Michael Stipe
, Iha played guitar
at the "Bring 'Em Back Home Now" concert in March 2006 in New York City
to benefit Iraq war veterans peace groups such as Veterans for Peace.
Iha remixed "Me Plus One," a track from Norwegian pop singer Annie's highly successful debut album Anniemal. Released in October 2006, Florida pop group The Postmarks
's "Goodbye" EP
also features a remix by Iha. That same year, Iha teamed up with Schlesinger
to co-produce folk band America
's comeback album, Here & Now
, and appeared on Scottish singer Isobel Campbell
's album, collaborating on her renditions of traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs. In 2006 also James Iha recorded a cover of "Judy Is a Punk" by The Ramones for 30th anniversary of a Japanese clothing label Beams
.
In February 2007, Side-Line
announced that James Iha delivered a remix for the Ladytron
single
"Weekend Mixes" out on March 9 via Smoke & Mirrors. In April 2007, he recorded remix for the Midnight Movies track "Patient Eye."
Iha appeared on stage with Swedish band The Sounds
, on the season finale of MTV
's Bam's Unholy Union
in April 2007 and contributed guitar to the song "Seatbacks and Traytables", on Fountains of Wayne
's 2007 album Traffic and Weather
. His former bandmate Melissa Auf der Maur
also contributed to that album.
. In the spring of 2007, Iha released remixes of songs by the little-known pop groups Midnight Movies
and The Postmarks
as freebies on the Internet. A Chicago weekly reported in June 2007 that Iha had been living in New York City for some time, running a recording studio and independent label.
Also in 2007, the Smashing Pumpkins reunited without Iha, and Billy Corgan has claimed at various times that this was because Iha had never expressed any interest in rejoining the group.
In May 2008, Marilyn Manson
said that Iha would be making a guest appearance on his new record
; however, Iha was not credited as a guitarist on the album.
On December 22, 2008, the Swedish band A Camp
put out a press release announcing that their new album would come out on April 28, 2009 in the US but, in early winter 2009 in select countries, featuring guest appearances by Iha and other musicians.
On February 17, 2009, it was announced that James Iha has, together with Taylor Hanson
, Fountains Of Wayne
bassist Adam Schlesinger
, and Cheap Trick
drummer Bun E. Carlos
formed a new band called Tinted Windows
. The band played their first publicized gig at SXSW in Austin, Texas
on March 20. Their first album was released on April 21, 2009 to generally positive reviews.
In April 2010, the official James Iha Web site reopened. According to the site, Iha considers his next solo album "halfway done (in his mind)." Shortly thereafter, a picture of James Iha with Kelly Pratt
and Jon Natchez from the band Beirut was posted on the Web site saying they would be playing horns on the album.
In August 2010, members of A Perfect Circle
posted messages to their Twitter accounts telling fans of their return after a 6 year long hiatus. The band later announced tour dates in which they would be playing the entirety of each of their three albums at each concert, with one album being played per night. It was also announced that the line-up would consist of Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, Josh Freese, Matt McJunkins, and James Iha.
Iha has lived in Manhattan since 2000.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and co-founder of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent fixture of A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
. He was most recently a member of Tinted Windows
Tinted Windows (band)
Tinted Windows is an American rock supergroup formed by guitarist James Iha, previously of The Smashing Pumpkins, singer Taylor Hanson of Hanson, bassist Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Josh Lattanzi also often performs with the band as the second...
, a 60's/70's inspired group with members of Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
and Hanson
Hanson (band)
Hanson are an American pop rock band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Isaac , Taylor , and Zac Hanson . They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere, which earned three Grammy nominations...
.
He also co-owns independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
Scratchie Records
Scratchie Records
Scratchie Records was an independent record label founded in 1995 by James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky , Adam Schlesinger , Kerry Brown and Jeremy Freeman....
with Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
of Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
and a recording studio with Schlesinger and Andy Chase of Ivy
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
called Stratosphere Sound
Stratosphere Sound
Stratosphere Sound is a recording studio located in New York City. Previously known as "The Place", the studio was renamed Stratosphere Sound in 1999....
in Manhattan. Bands on the Scratchie label include The Sounds
The Sounds
The Sounds are a Swedish Indie Rock band. Formed in Helsingborg in 1999, the group's musical style has been compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons....
, Albert Hammond Jr., and Office
Office (band)
Office is a Chicago-based pop band that formed in 2000.-History:The band began as a public performance outlet for songwriter Scott Masson while attending Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
.
Iha has produced songs, contributed guitar, sung and made remixes for acts the world over from lesser-knowns like L.A.'s Midnight Movies
Midnight Movies
Midnight Movies were an indie rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2002. Composed of Gena Olivier , Larry Schemel , and Jason Hammons , the indie rock trio quickly crafted a moody and stylish sound. They became a major face on the L.A. music scene within a year, and earned a nomination...
to the Scottish singer Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
to Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
and Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
. Iha currently lives in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Early life and background
Iha attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, which he described as "a boring, middle-class suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Chicago." Iha received average grades in high school, and, after a successful two-year stint at a local junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
, he majored in graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
at Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
before dropping out to dedicate himself to the Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
.
He is a second-generation
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
Japanese-American and is able to speak only a little Japanese.
Like his former bandmate Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
, Iha has a brother with a disability.
Smashing Pumpkins
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
band Snake Train, met Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
via a friend. Corgan had already been telling people he was in a band called "Smashing Pumpkins," and decided to make it a real band with Iha.
Iha later became romantically involved with the band's bassist D'arcy Wretzky
D'arcy Wretzky
D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky is an American musician. She is best known for her work as the original bass player of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins...
, but the couple broke up just prior to the band's performance at the Reading Festival in 1992. After a brief feud between the two, Iha sustained a friendly and close relationship with Wretzky, citing her as a best friend
Friendship
Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association are often thought of as spanning across the same continuum...
.
Iha wrote and sang a number of Smashing Pumpkins' songs, such as, "Blew Away" on Pisces Iscariot
Pisces Iscariot
Pisces Iscariot is a compilation album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the U.S. upon its 1994 release, Pisces Iscariot was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994...
, "Bugg Superstar" on Vieuphoria
Vieuphoria
Vieuphoria is a long form music video by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, originally released on VHS on October 4, 1994 and DVD on November 26, 2002...
, "Take Me Down" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released October 24, 1995 on Virgin Records. Produced by frontman Billy Corgan with Flood and Alan Moulder, the twenty-eight-track album was released as a two-disc CD and triple LP...
, "...Said Sadly", "Believe", "The Boy", and "The Bells" on The Aeroplane Flies High
The Aeroplane Flies High
The Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the...
, "Summer" on the "Perfect" single and "Go" on Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music
MACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music
Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music is the sixth album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was released for free on the Internet on September 5, 2000...
. He co-wrote with Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
"I Am One
I Am One
"I Am One" is the debut single by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first ever release and remains the only single issued by the band with co-writing credits to both Billy Corgan and James Iha. It charted on the UK Singles Chart at a peak position of number...
" on Gish
Gish
Gish is the debut album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released in May 1991 through Caroline Records. Frontman Billy Corgan described Gish as a "very spiritual album"...
, "Soma" and "Mayonaise
Mayonaise (song)
"Mayonaise" |Mayonnaise]]) is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins, first officially released on the 1993 breakthrough album Siamese Dream. It was written by Billy Corgan and James Iha and was recorded from December 1992 to March 1993 at Triclops Sound Studios...
" on Siamese Dream
Siamese Dream
Siamese Dream is the second album by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993 on Virgin Records. The album fused diverse influences such as shoegazing, dream pop, grunge, classic rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock.Despite recording sessions fraught...
, "Plume" on Pisces Iscariot
Pisces Iscariot
Pisces Iscariot is a compilation album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the U.S. upon its 1994 release, Pisces Iscariot was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994...
and "Farewell and Goodnight" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. He also sang the band's covers of The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
's "A Night Like This
The Head on the Door
The Head on the Door is the sixth studio album by British band The Cure, released in 1985. The album is the first to feature drummer Boris Williams, it also features the return of Simon Gallup and is Porl Thompson's first album as an official member....
" and Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
's "Terrapin." During his time with the Pumpkins, James also appeared on recordings with other bands, including Ivy
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
, to which Adam Schlesinger also contributes, and Swedish New Wave band The Sounds
The Sounds
The Sounds are a Swedish Indie Rock band. Formed in Helsingborg in 1999, the group's musical style has been compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons....
.
Iha was often considered the "quiet one" in Smashing Pumpkins, but he was known to engage in ad-libbed jokes and rap sessions. His humor was encapsulated in his use of the catchphrase, "I've seen a million faces, and I've rocked them all," originally from the Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
song "Wanted Dead or Alive
Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi song)
-Music Video:The video for the song is black and white and features footage from the band's massive 1986-1987 world tour, including shots from Chicago's UIC Pavilion, Rochester, Minnesota's Mayo Civic Center, Denver, Colorado's McNichols Arena, Pittsburgh, PA F. Pitt Tunnel and Pittsburgh Skyline...
".
In 1998, Iha released a moderately successful solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
, Let It Come Down, his only solo effort to date. One music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was produced from this album, for the song "Be Strong Now
Be Strong Now
"Be Strong Now" is a song by James Iha. It was the single from his debut album, Let It Come Down. The song was released in 1998....
", which was also released as a four-track single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
.
When his former bandmates Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
and Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
revived the "Smashing Pumpkins" name, James did not participate, and in fact has not spoken to Corgan in years. Corgan stated in a 2008 blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
entry that when he and Chamberlin reunited, the "door was open" for Iha to rejoin, but he declined, and Corgan said that he "can now say definitively that [Iha isn't] ever coming back."
2001–2004: A Perfect Circle, producing, Japan
Since the Pumpkins' breakup in 2000, Iha has pursued many projects. He continues to contribute to other artists' recordings, such as "Don't Be Sad" on WhiskeytownWhiskeytown
Whiskeytown was an alternative country band formed in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1994. Fronted by Ryan Adams, other members included Caitlin Cary, Phil Wandscher, Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly. They disbanded in 2000, with Adams leaving to pursue his solo career...
's Pneumonia
Pneumonia (album)
-Musicians:*Ryan Adams — Guitars, vocals, piano & harmonica*Caitlin Cary — Fiddle & backing vocals*Mike Daly — Guitars, pedal steel, lap steel, dulcimer, mandocello, mandolin, keyboards & backing vocals*Brad Rice — Guitars...
released in 2001 and further guest appearances for bands Ivy
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
and Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
, both of which he remained close to, appearing on virtually every release by both bands since 1997. Andy Chase
Andy Chase
Andy Chase is a New York based musician/songwriter/producer. He is a member of the bands Ivy, Brookville, and Paco. He is also a co-owner of New York City recording studio Stratosphere sound with partners James Iha , and Adam Schlesinger .In 1995, Chase co-produced and engineered the title track...
of Ivy, and Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
of both Ivy and Fountains, appeared on most songs James produced or wrote for other artists. Schlesinger first appeared on Iha's song on "The Bells
Thirty-Three (song)
"Thirty-Three" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the fifth and final single from their third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. It was also the first single released after the firing of Jimmy Chamberlin and death of Jonathan Melvoin...
" by The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
.
Iha made bigger news when he joined the alternative rock supergroup A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
in July 2003 in time for their Thirteenth Step
Thirteenth Step
Thirteenth Step is the second studio album by American rock band A Perfect Circle, released under Compact Disc format on September 16, 2003. It was a major success reaching the #2 position on the Billboard 200 in its premiere week, selling over 231,000 copies and staying on the charts for 78 weeks....
club tour. He has since appeared on their 2004 album eMOTIVe
EMOTIVe
-Personnel:* Charles Clouser - Programming* Critter - Engineer* Steve Duda - Digital engineer* Joshua Eustis - Drums, engineer, Fender Rhodes, mixing* Jason Freese - Sax , sax * Steven R Gilmore - Design, photography, sleeve art, poster design...
as well as contributed remixes of Blue and Outsider, and is back with the band following its near 6 year long hiatus. In 2003, he joined Vanessa and the O's
Vanessa and the O's
Vanessa and the O's formed in 2003/2004 when Vanessa Contenay-Quinones got together with Swedes Andreas Mattson and Niclas Frisk later joining up with James Iha in New York.They recorded the album La Ballade d'O over the next 18 months...
. The group released an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Plus Rien in Sweden the same year and followed up with the album La Ballade d'O in 2005–2006 on the bands own label RushmoreRecordings playing live shows in Sweden during the summer of 2005.
More recently, Iha has collaborated on musical and fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
projects in Japan. He collaborated on and produced two tracks with Japanese musician Chara
Chara (singer)
, better known by her stage name Chara, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven...
for her 2001 album Madrigal called "Boku ni Utsushite" and "Skirt." The latter was accompanied by a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
featuring Iha as a hunter in a forest. With the help of longtime friend and manager Isao Izutsu, Iha also started the clothing label Vapor in 2001, and recorded "Never Ever," his first solo song since the Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
's demise for Vapor's first runway show.
In 2001 James played live with The Blank Theory
The Blank Theory
The Blank Theory was a five-piece rock group from Chicago, Illinois.They self-released two albums, Blinding Process in 1998 and Catalyst in 2000. Catalyst included the track "Nevermind" which was featured in a segment of MTV Road Rules. While the first two independent releases were hard edged indie...
and appeared on their album Beyond the Calm of the Corridor
Beyond the Calm of the Corridor
Beyond the Calm of the Corridor was the only album The Blank Theory released on New Line Records. It featured 13 tracks in total. Producer Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Ivy fame, Co-Producer James Iha , contributed his guitar works on "Killing Me"...
producing the song "Addicted" together with Schlesinger and contributing guitar playing.
2005–2007: Soundtracks, collaborations, remixes
In 2004, A Perfect CircleA Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
went on hiatus and James spent much of the year DJing
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
exclusive parties in New York.
Iha scored the Japanese film Linda, Linda, Linda, released in late summer of 2005. The same year he teamed with Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
again to produce a duet cover of Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
's "Splish Splash
Splish Splash (song)
"Splish Splash" is a 1958 song performed and co-written by Bobby Darin. It was written with DJ Murray the K , who bet that Darin couldn't write a song that began with the words, "Splish Splash, I was takin' a bath", as suggested by Murray's mother, Jean Kaufman. The song was credited to Darin and...
" for the soundtrack to the Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John Wayne...
film Because of Winn-Dixie
Because of Winn-Dixie
Because of Winn-Dixie is a children's novel by Kate DiCamillo published in 2000 and winner of a Newbery Honor distinction the following year. It also won the 2000 Josette Frank Award, and 2003 Mark Twain Award...
. The same year Iha contributed guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
to some tracks of Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
's band Team Sleep
Team Sleep
Team Sleep is an American experimental alternative rock group led by singer/guitarist Chino Moreno, better known for fronting the Sacramento-based band Deftones....
sophomore album, which has yet to be released.
Iha produced two tracks on the 2006 tribute album to Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited
Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited is a tribute album to the works of late French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. First released on Virgin Records in 2006, it consists of English language cover versions of Gainsbourg songs, performed by a diverse array of contemporary artists...
, "I love you (me either)," that featured Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
and model Karen Elson
Karen Elson
Karen Elson is a British model, singer-songwriter and guitarist.As a child, Elson attended North Chadderton School in Chadderton with her twin sister, filmmaker Kate Elson. She began working as a model as a teenager....
singing and "L'Hotel" with Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
on vocals. Iha also appeared on the track "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde (film)
The film was originally offered to François Truffaut, the best-known director of the New Wave movement, who made contributions to the script. He passed on the project to make Fahrenheit 451. The producers approached Jean-Luc Godard next...
" in a duets with singer Kazu Makino (of Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace , which formed in New York City in 1993....
) on the US edition of the album.
In February 2006, a digital EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
"In the Sun
In the Sun (Joseph Arthur song)
"In the Sun" is the second single from Joseph Arthur's second studio album Come to Where I'm From, though the song had been performed during Joseph's live shows as early as 1996. The single was released in the UK and Europe on April 23, 2001 via Real World Records and Virgin Records. The original...
" produced by Iha featuring Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
and Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
was released. The EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
was for the benefit of Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. The song was featured on an episode of Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
. Also in collaboration with Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, Iha played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
at the "Bring 'Em Back Home Now" concert in March 2006 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to benefit Iraq war veterans peace groups such as Veterans for Peace.
Iha remixed "Me Plus One," a track from Norwegian pop singer Annie's highly successful debut album Anniemal. Released in October 2006, Florida pop group The Postmarks
The Postmarks
The Postmarks are a pop band from Pompano Beach, Florida. Their self-titled LP was released in February 2007 and has been met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and Spin, as well as Pitchfork Media and a host of other music blogs. The group was discovered by Andy Chase of Ivy and...
's "Goodbye" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
also features a remix by Iha. That same year, Iha teamed up with Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
to co-produce folk band America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
's comeback album, Here & Now
Here & Now (America album)
Here & Now is the sixteenth original studio album by American folk rock duo America, released by Burgundy Records in January 2007...
, and appeared on Scottish singer Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
's album, collaborating on her renditions of traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs. In 2006 also James Iha recorded a cover of "Judy Is a Punk" by The Ramones for 30th anniversary of a Japanese clothing label Beams
Beams
Beams is a Japanese clothing brand, established in 1976, whose chief executive officer is Yo Shitara. Besides stores in many places in Japan, they have branch offices in New York, Milan, London, and Paris....
.
In February 2007, Side-Line
Side-Line
Side-Line is an online music magazine specialising in electronic music, and electro-goth/industrial in particular. It was founded in 1989 as a print publication, and had a circulation of 6,000 in Europe and America...
announced that James Iha delivered a remix for the Ladytron
Ladytron
Ladytron are an English electronic band formed in 1999 in Liverpool, Merseyside. The group consists of Helen Marnie , Mira Aroyo , Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu .Their sound blends electropop with New Wave and shoegazing elements. Ladytron described their sound as "electronic pop"...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Weekend Mixes" out on March 9 via Smoke & Mirrors. In April 2007, he recorded remix for the Midnight Movies track "Patient Eye."
Iha appeared on stage with Swedish band The Sounds
The Sounds
The Sounds are a Swedish Indie Rock band. Formed in Helsingborg in 1999, the group's musical style has been compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons....
, on the season finale of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Bam's Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union is an American reality series that aired on MTV and MTV Canada. It follows Bam Margera and his fiancee Missy Rothstein as they plan their wedding...
in April 2007 and contributed guitar to the song "Seatbacks and Traytables", on Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
's 2007 album Traffic and Weather
Traffic and Weather
Traffic and Weather is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on April 3, 2007. The album has been described as having "...more witty tales of confused young people caught between destinations"....
. His former bandmate Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a...
also contributed to that album.
2007–present: Solo album, return to A Perfect Circle
In the spring of 2007, Iha told Rolling Stone magazine that he was writing and recording songs for a second solo albumSolo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
. In the spring of 2007, Iha released remixes of songs by the little-known pop groups Midnight Movies
Midnight Movies
Midnight Movies were an indie rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2002. Composed of Gena Olivier , Larry Schemel , and Jason Hammons , the indie rock trio quickly crafted a moody and stylish sound. They became a major face on the L.A. music scene within a year, and earned a nomination...
and The Postmarks
The Postmarks
The Postmarks are a pop band from Pompano Beach, Florida. Their self-titled LP was released in February 2007 and has been met with critical acclaim from Rolling Stone and Spin, as well as Pitchfork Media and a host of other music blogs. The group was discovered by Andy Chase of Ivy and...
as freebies on the Internet. A Chicago weekly reported in June 2007 that Iha had been living in New York City for some time, running a recording studio and independent label.
Also in 2007, the Smashing Pumpkins reunited without Iha, and Billy Corgan has claimed at various times that this was because Iha had never expressed any interest in rejoining the group.
In May 2008, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
said that Iha would be making a guest appearance on his new record
The High End of Low
The High End of Low is the seventh full-length studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. Sean Beavan, who mixed Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Eat Me, Drink Me, is co-producer of the album along with Chris Vrenna...
; however, Iha was not credited as a guitarist on the album.
On December 22, 2008, the Swedish band A Camp
A Camp
A Camp is the solo side project of Nina Persson, vocalist for the Swedish Indie Pop band The Cardigans.Persson formed A Camp when The Cardigans took a break after several years of touring and the recording of their 1998 album Gran Turismo.-A Camp:...
put out a press release announcing that their new album would come out on April 28, 2009 in the US but, in early winter 2009 in select countries, featuring guest appearances by Iha and other musicians.
On February 17, 2009, it was announced that James Iha has, together with Taylor Hanson
Taylor Hanson
Taylor Hanson is an American musician best known as a member of the pop rock band Hanson. He sings both lead and back-up vocals, and plays keyboard, percussion , guitar, harmonica, and piano...
, Fountains Of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
bassist Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
, and Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
drummer Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos, born Brad Carlson, June 12, 1951, is the primary drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He is the band's chief setlister and archivist, and maintains recordings of all the band's shows, some of which have been released under the name 'Bun E's Bootlegs'.Carlos is left-handed, but...
formed a new band called Tinted Windows
Tinted Windows (band)
Tinted Windows is an American rock supergroup formed by guitarist James Iha, previously of The Smashing Pumpkins, singer Taylor Hanson of Hanson, bassist Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Josh Lattanzi also often performs with the band as the second...
. The band played their first publicized gig at SXSW in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
on March 20. Their first album was released on April 21, 2009 to generally positive reviews.
In April 2010, the official James Iha Web site reopened. According to the site, Iha considers his next solo album "halfway done (in his mind)." Shortly thereafter, a picture of James Iha with Kelly Pratt
Kelly Pratt (musician)
Kelly Pratt is a multi-instrumentalist best known for his brass work in the bands Beirut and Arcade Fire.-Biography:Born in Lexington, KY, Pratt has been a member of Beirut since the band's relocation to Brooklyn, playing in the live band and on the recordings...
and Jon Natchez from the band Beirut was posted on the Web site saying they would be playing horns on the album.
In August 2010, members of A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
posted messages to their Twitter accounts telling fans of their return after a 6 year long hiatus. The band later announced tour dates in which they would be playing the entirety of each of their three albums at each concert, with one album being played per night. It was also announced that the line-up would consist of Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, Josh Freese, Matt McJunkins, and James Iha.
Iha has lived in Manhattan since 2000.
Discography
- 1990 - 2000 - All in your hands (not accredited)
- 1991 - GishGishGish is the debut album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released in May 1991 through Caroline Records. Frontman Billy Corgan described Gish as a "very spiritual album"...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1991 - LullLull (EP)Lull is an EP by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released in 1991.- Background :"Rhinoceros" was taken from Gish , "Blue" later appeared on Pisces Iscariot, and a live version of "Slunk" later appeared on Vieuphoria and its soundtrack album Earphoria."Bye June" is a 1989...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1993 - Siamese DreamSiamese DreamSiamese Dream is the second album by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993 on Virgin Records. The album fused diverse influences such as shoegazing, dream pop, grunge, classic rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock.Despite recording sessions fraught...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1994 - Pisces IscariotPisces IscariotPisces Iscariot is a compilation album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the U.S. upon its 1994 release, Pisces Iscariot was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1994 - EarphoriaEarphoriaEarphoria is a live album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It is the soundtrack of the band's Vieuphoria video. While the video has been widely available since its initial release, the CD was only released in a limited number of promo CD copies in 1994, and was subsequently...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1995 - Mellon Collie And The Infinite SadnessMellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessMellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released October 24, 1995 on Virgin Records. Produced by frontman Billy Corgan with Flood and Alan Moulder, the twenty-eight-track album was released as a two-disc CD and triple LP...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1996 - The Aeroplane Flies HighThe Aeroplane Flies HighThe Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 1997 - Apartment LifeApartment Life:For the publication known from 1974-81 as Apartment Life, see Metropolitan HomeApartment Life is an album released in 1997 by the band Ivy on Atlantic Records. It was re-released later the same year by Sony's 550 Music imprint with remixed versions of several songs...
(with Ivy) (Guest only) - 1998 - Let it Come Down (solo album)
- 1998 - Adore (with The Smashing Pumpkins)
- 2000 - Machina/The Machines Of GodMACHINA/The Machines of GodMachina/The Machines of God is the fifth album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on February 29, 2000 by Virgin Records. A concept album, it marked the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and was intended to be the band's final official LP release prior to their first...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 2000 - Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern MusicMACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern MusicMachina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music is the sixth album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was released for free on the Internet on September 5, 2000...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 2001 - Long Distance (with Ivy) (Guest only)
- 2001 - PneumoniaPneumonia (album)-Musicians:*Ryan Adams — Guitars, vocals, piano & harmonica*Caitlin Cary — Fiddle & backing vocals*Mike Daly — Guitars, pedal steel, lap steel, dulcimer, mandocello, mandolin, keyboards & backing vocals*Brad Rice — Guitars...
(with Whiskeytown) - 2001 - Rotten ApplesRotten ApplesRotten Apples is a greatest hits compilation album by alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. In the US, it was released in 2001 along with a bonus disc titled Judas O. The album's concluding track, "Untitled", was the Pumpkins' final recording before their breakup...
(with The Smashing Pumpkins) - 2003 - La Ballade d'O (with Vanessa and the O's)
- 2003 - Welcome Interstate ManagersWelcome Interstate ManagersWelcome Interstate Managers is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on June 10, 2003. The album's title was taken from a hotel marquee sign. The album includes the hit song "Stacy's Mom", which garnered significant airplay in 2003. "Mexican Wine" was the second single...
(with Fountains Of Wayne) (Guest only) - 2003 - Wonderfully Nothing (with Brookville)
- 2004 - Auf der MaurAuf der Maur (album)Auf der Maur is the debut album from former Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.Formed following her successful stints as bassist for both Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Auf der Maur's solo project Auf der Maur released their self-titled debut album after Melissa's...
(with Melissa Auf der Maur) - 2004 - eMOTIVe (with A Perfect Circle)
- 2004 - aMotionAMOTION-Personnel:* Christopher Abbas – Director* Josh Abrahams – Remixing* Tim Alexander – Group member* Ken Andrews – Mixing* Wes Borland – Remixing* Brothers Strause – Director* Jerry Casale – Director...
(with A Perfect Circle) - 2005 - Because of Winn-Dixie soundtrackBecause of Winn-Dixie (film)Because of Winn-Dixie is a 2005 film adapted from the book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Walden Media and released by 20th Century Fox...
(with Adam Schlesinger on track 5 only) - 2005 - In the ClearIn the ClearIn the Clear is an album released by the band Ivy on March 1, 2005 on Nettwerk.When starting sessions for In The Clear, the band tried to strike a balance between the immediacy of their early recordings and the careful sonic detailing of their more recent work...
(with Ivy) (Guest only) - 2005 - Rarities and B-Sides (with The Smashing Pumpkins)
- 2005 - Linda Linda Linda soundtrack (movie by Nobuhiro Yamashita)
- 2006 - Milkwhite SheetsMilkwhite SheetsMilkwhite Sheets is the fourth solo album released by former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell. The album was released on October 23, 2006. It brings traditional songs from United Kingdom and songs written by Campbell...
(with Isobel Campbell) - 2007 - Traffic and WeatherTraffic and WeatherTraffic and Weather is an album by Fountains of Wayne. It was released on April 3, 2007. The album has been described as having "...more witty tales of confused young people caught between destinations"....
(with Fountains Of Wayne) (Guest on Seatbacks and Traytables) - 2009 - ColoniaColonia (A Camp album)Colonia is the second studio album by A Camp, the collaborative side project between The Cardigans lead vocalist Nina Persson and her husband, composer Nathan Larson along with producer Niclas Frisk, the founding member of Atomic Swing. The album was released on 28 January 2009 in Scandinavia by...
(with A Camp) - 2009 - Tinted WindowsTinted Windows (album)Tinted Windows is the eponymous debut album of the American supergroup, Tinted Windows. Tinted Windows was formed in New York and consists of guitarist James Iha, previously of The Smashing Pumpkins and A Perfect Circle, singer Taylor Hanson of Hanson, bassist Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne...
(with Tinted Windows)
Videography
- 1994 - VieuphoriaVieuphoriaVieuphoria is a long form music video by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, originally released on VHS on October 4, 1994 and DVD on November 26, 2002...
(VHS) - 2001 - Smashing Pumpkins - Greatest Hits Video CollectionGreatest Hits Video CollectionThe Smashing Pumpkins - Greatest Hits Video Collection is a video album containing nearly all of The Smashing Pumpkins music videos released prior to the band's breakup in late 2000...
(DVD) - 2005 - Charlie Charlie (Videoclip by Vanessa and the O's)
Written by James Iha
- "Wave Song" from Mashed Potatoes
- "Blew Away" from Pisces IscariotPisces IscariotPisces Iscariot is a compilation album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins released in 1994 through Virgin Records, consisting of B-sides and outtakes. Reaching number 4 in the U.S. upon its 1994 release, Pisces Iscariot was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 23, 1994...
- "Why Am I So Tired?" from VieuphoriaVieuphoriaVieuphoria is a long form music video by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, originally released on VHS on October 4, 1994 and DVD on November 26, 2002...
and EarphoriaEarphoriaEarphoria is a live album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It is the soundtrack of the band's Vieuphoria video. While the video has been widely available since its initial release, the CD was only released in a limited number of promo CD copies in 1994, and was subsequently... - "Bugg Superstar" from VieuphoriaVieuphoriaVieuphoria is a long form music video by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, originally released on VHS on October 4, 1994 and DVD on November 26, 2002...
and EarphoriaEarphoriaEarphoria is a live album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It is the soundtrack of the band's Vieuphoria video. While the video has been widely available since its initial release, the CD was only released in a limited number of promo CD copies in 1994, and was subsequently... - "Take Me Down" from Mellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessMellon Collie and the Infinite SadnessMellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is the third album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released October 24, 1995 on Virgin Records. Produced by frontman Billy Corgan with Flood and Alan Moulder, the twenty-eight-track album was released as a two-disc CD and triple LP...
- "...Said Sadly" from The Aeroplane Flies HighThe Aeroplane Flies HighThe Aeroplane Flies High is a five-disc box set released by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996. It contains expanded versions of the five singles from their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and also included a 44-page booklet with pictures and writings by the...
- "Believe" from The Aeroplane Flies High
- "The Boy" from The Aeroplane Flies High
- "The Bells" from The Aeroplane Flies High
- "Summer" from the "Perfect" single
- "Go" on Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern MusicMACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern MusicMachina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music is the sixth album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was released for free on the Internet on September 5, 2000...
Co-written with Billy Corgan
- "I Am OneI Am One"I Am One" is the debut single by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the band's first ever release and remains the only single issued by the band with co-writing credits to both Billy Corgan and James Iha. It charted on the UK Singles Chart at a peak position of number...
" from GishGishGish is the debut album by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released in May 1991 through Caroline Records. Frontman Billy Corgan described Gish as a "very spiritual album"... - "Soma" and "MayonaiseMayonaise (song)"Mayonaise" |Mayonnaise]]) is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins, first officially released on the 1993 breakthrough album Siamese Dream. It was written by Billy Corgan and James Iha and was recorded from December 1992 to March 1993 at Triclops Sound Studios...
" from Siamese DreamSiamese DreamSiamese Dream is the second album by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, released on July 27, 1993 on Virgin Records. The album fused diverse influences such as shoegazing, dream pop, grunge, classic rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock.Despite recording sessions fraught... - "Plume" from Pisces Iscariot
- "Farewell and Goodnight" from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
- "Tribute to Johnny" from "The Aeroplane Flies High"
Covers sung by Iha
- Syd BarrettSyd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
's "Terrapin" from I Am One - The CureThe CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
's "A Night Like This" from The Aeroplane Flies High - Tom WaitsTom WaitsThomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
's "Ol' 55" (performed live in 1999 at the Bridge School Benefit concerts) - The Human LeagueThe Human LeagueThe Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
's "Don't You Want MeDon't You Want Me"Don't You Want Me" is a single by British synthpop group Human League, released from their album: Dare on 27 November 1981.It is the band's best known and most commercially successful recording to date, and was the Christmas number one in the UK, in 1981, where it sold over 1,400,000 copies,...
" (performed live as a duet with Melissa Auf der MaurMelissa Auf der MaurMelissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a...
in 2000 tour) - David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's "Kooks" (performed live in 1993)
Guitars
- Fender Jazzmaster (as seen on Zero video)
- 1980s Les Paul Custom
- 1984 Ebony Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Gibson Flying V
- Gibson SG-Custom (1980s)
- Gibson SG Les Paul Custom 30th Anniversary (1991)
- Rickenbacker 360
- Fender Bronco
- Fender Telecaster
- 1960s Teisco K2L (as seen in Rocket video)
Amplifiers
- Fender Twin Reverb Amp
- Marshall JMP-1 Pre-Amp
- Mesa-Boogie Tri-Axis
- Orange Overdrive 120 Head & Cab
Effects
- DigiTech DHP-55 Harmony Processor
- DigiTech GSP2101 Effects Processor
- EBow
- Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress (18v Version)
- Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
- Electro Harmonix Small Stone Phaser
- Eventide H3000 Harmonizer
- SustainPunch Creamy Dreamer Pedal
Other
- DR Hi-Beam Nickel-Plated Strings
- Jim Dunlop 1.0 millimeter tortex pics
- Pedal-cast Extender