Mike Byrne (musician)

Michael William Byrne (born February 6, 1990) is a drummer who was a member of the band 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 six 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 Pumpkins 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]

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

Mike Byrne
Mike Byrne drumming for The Smashing Pumpkins in 2011
Background information
Birth nameMichael William Byrne
Born (1990-02-06) February 6, 1990
Portland, Oregon, United States
GenresAlternative rock, math rock
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsDrums, vocals, keyboards
Years active2009–present
LabelsMartha's Music, Caroline Distribution
Associated actsThe Smashing Pumpkins, Spirits in the Sky, Bearcubbin'![1]

On June 13, 2014, Billy Corgan reported that Byrne had 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[4] and later played in local bands the Mercury Tree, Bearcubbin'! and Moses, Smell the Roses. By his freshman year of high school he was quickly recognized by upper-class musicians as not only a prolific drummer but as a singer/guitarist after performing a cover of a Staind song in which Byrne provided both percussion and vocals with two other guitarists from his freshman class. He also participated in marching band and marched on drumline while in high school.[5] While attending Beaverton High School, from which 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. Byrne's YouTube channel, which he created three years prior to joining the band, had been "MarquisinSpadez", a reference to the song "Marquis in Spades", from the Smashing Pumpkins' Zero EP.[6]

In 2011, Byrne won best "Up and Coming" drummer in Modern Drummer's Reader's Poll.[7]

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

After the Smashing Pumpkins

Upon leaving the Smashing Pumpkins, Byrne continued his efforts with his local band Bearcubbin!, in the Pacific Northwest. They have released two full-length albums. During their visit to SXSW in 2014, they won the award for "Worst Band Name" out of the thousands of bands attending.[9]

Musical influences

Byrne cites some of his influences as The Cure, Maserati, Maps and Atlases, and Pelican. He enjoys post-rock and math rock.[10]

Discography
With the Smashing Pumpkins
With Bearcubbin'!
  • Live From the Bear Trap (2009)
  • Jewels & The Wallwalkers/ Bearcubbin'! (2010, split album)
  • Get Your Heavies Out (2011)
  • Girls with Fun Haircuts (2014)[11]
With Moses, Smell the Roses
  • Frenemies EP (2007)
  • Please Do Over (2009)

References
  1. "Get Your Heavies Out | Bearcubbin'!". Bearcubbin.bandcamp.com. August 6, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  2. "Watch: Smashing Pumpkins v3.5 on Record Store Day". April 19, 2010.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. White, Ryan (September 17, 2009). "Beaverton 19-year-old goes from McDonald's employee to Smashing Pumpkins drummer". The Oregonian. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  5. 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. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  8. Camp, Joe (June 15, 2014). "Smashing Pumpkins Drummer Mike Byrne Leaves Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. "Musicfest NW: Q&A with Beaverton local Mike Byrne, Smashing Pumpkins drummer". September 10, 2010.
  11. "Girls with Fun Haircuts, by Bearcubbin'!".
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