Mike Byrne (musician)

This article is about the drummer. For the guitarist, see The Methadones.
Mike Byrne

Mike Byrne—a Caucasian male 21 years old drummer in a black and white photo

Mike Byrne drumming for The Smashing Pumpkins in 2011.
Background information
Birth name Michael William Byrne
Born (1990-02-06) February 6, 1990
Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres Alternative rock, math rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Drums, vocals, keyboards
Years active 2009–present
Labels Martha's Music, Caroline Distribution
Associated acts The Smashing Pumpkins, Spirits in the Sky, Bearcubbin'![1]

Michael William "Mike" Byrne (born February 6, 1990) is the former drummer for The Smashing Pumpkins. When Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan called for rehearsals to replace Jimmy Chamberlin, Byrne auditioned and was chosen out of thousands of applicants. He played drums in Sky Saxon tribute band Spirits in the Sky for 6 shows in August 2009, along with Corgan, Kerry Brown, Kevin Dippold, Mark Tulin, Linda Strawberry, Ysanne Spevack, Mark Weitz, and Dave Navarro, and also performs drums on the ongoing Pumpkins 44-song project, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. As a part of Teargarden, Mike contributed drumming duties on Oceania, the Pumpkins' eighth full-length album. On April 17, 2010, Byrne played his first show under the Smashing Pumpkins moniker in celebration of Record Store Day.[2]

On June 13, 2014, Billy Corgan reported that Mike Byrne left the band.[3]

Early life

Byrne grew up in the Portland suburb of Beaverton, Oregon with his parents Eric and Chris Byrne and his sister, Elise Byrne.[4] He started playing the drums regularly at age 12, when he briefly dated artist Rebecca Sutton who broke up with him over AIM. [4] and later played in local bands The Mercury Tree, Bearcubbin'! and Moses, Smell the Roses. He also participated in marching band and marched on drumline while in high school.[5] During high school at Beaverton High School, where he graduated in 2008, he worked at McDonald's to save money for college.[4]

The Smashing Pumpkins

Byrne drumming with The Smashing Pumpkins in 2010

On August 17, 2009, he was officially named as the new drummer for The Smashing Pumpkins.[4][5] The Pumpkins were already one of his favorite bands, with Jimmy Chamberlin among his most influential drummers. His YouTube channel, which he created three years prior to joining that band, had been "MarquisinSpadez", a reference to the song "Marquis in Spades", from the Smashing Pumpkins' Zero EP.[6] In 2011, Mike won best "Up and Coming" drummer in Modern Drummer's Reader's Poll.[7]

In June 2014, Billy Corgan reported that Byrne left the band.[8]

Musical influences

Byrne cites some of his influences as The Cure, Maserati, Maps and Atlases, and Pelican and enjoys post-rock and math rock.[9]

Discography

With The Smashing Pumpkins
With Bearcubbin'!
With Moses, Smell the Roses

References

  1. ↑ "Get Your Heavies Out | Bearcubbin'!". Bearcubbin.bandcamp.com. August 6, 2011. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  2. ↑ "Watch: Smashing Pumpkins v3.5 on Record Store Day".
  3. ↑ http://www.crestfallen.com/2014/06/13/billy-corgan-has-a-in-depth-talk-about-the-new-albums-confirms-bandmate-departure
  4. 1 2 3 4 White, Ryan (September 17, 2009). "Beaverton 19-year-old goes from McDonald's employee to Smashing Pumpkins drummer". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  5. 1 2 Kreps, Daniel (August 18, 2009). "Rock & Roll Daily: Smashing Pumpkins' Drummer Announced, Corgan Hints At Album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 21, 2009.
  6. ↑ Mike Byrne's YouTube account.
  7. ↑ "2011 Modern Drummer Readers Poll". Vater Percussion. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  8. ↑ Camp, Joe (June 15, 2014). "Smashing Pumpkins Drummer Mike Byrne Leaves Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Musicfest NW: Q&A with Beaverton local Mike Byrne, Smashing Pumpkins drummer".
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