Former Pumpkins Bassist Nabbed on Drug Charges

D'Arcy Wretzky, former Smashing Pumpkins bassist, was arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 25 on the west side of Chicago after she allegedly purchased three bags of crack cocaine. According to police, undercover officers observed Wretzky and a male companion enter a building on West Grand Avenue and then shortly afterwards return to their car. The driver, identified as Tony Young, then drove off, without his headlights on, and proceeded to make two illegal U-turns before police stopped the car.

When searched, the police found drugs in Young's pocket. The driver insisted they were not his, claiming that Wretzky "handed me some rocks to hold." Upon questioning, she admitted giving him the three plastic bags.

Wretzky is scheduled to appear in Chicago Court Branch 57 on Feb. 14.

Since her departure from the Pumpkins last September, Wretzky has been living in Los Angeles and pursuing an acting career. She recently returned to the Windy City, to attend to the birth of one of her bull mastiffs, according to a spokesperson, but a rep for Wretzky did not return calls when queried about the arrest.

In July of 1996, Pumpkins' drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was ousted from the band because of his drug problems in the wake of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin's fatal heroin overdose. A clean and sober Chamberlain rejoined the band last year after undergoing rehab.

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Song Stories

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

More Song Stories entries »

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