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

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

More Song Stories entries »

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