Walker Leaving Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins announced this weekend that drummer Matt Walker (formerly of Filter) will leave the band to focus his attention on his new band, Cupcakes, recently signed to DreamWorks.

In a statement released by Smashing Pumpkins publicist Gayle Fine, the group stated: "Matt is a tremendous talent and we wish him all the best and much success with his band. We are very grateful that he has helped us so much." When asked who might replace Walker -- hired by the Pumpkins in August 1996 to round out their touring lineup -- Fine said that the band has no comment at this time.

Walker's final appearance with Smashing Pumpkins will be on Dec. 5 in Miami, where they are scheduled to open for the Rolling Stones. The Pumpkins are currently in the studio working on a follow-up to the multiplatinum Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

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Song Stories

“Too Close”

Next | 1998

Next was formed in Minneapolis when the uncle of Terry "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, who was a gospel choir director, introduced the brothers to Robert Lavelle "R.L." Huggar. Sounds of Blackness singer Ann Nesby groomed the R&B group before handing them over to Naughty by Nature's KayGee, who wrote and produced "Too Close." The idea for the song was sparked "from a conversation we had with several girls at a nightclub," explained T-Low. "It's talking about the club scene, with guys getting out of hand and the female telling him to back up, asking, 'What are you doing?'" 

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