Jeff Schroeder is leaving the Smashing Pumpkins, the guitarist and his former bandmates announced in jointly shared statements today. “Although it was a very difficult decision to make, I’ve decided to leave the band to make some space to explore a slightly different path,” Schroeder explained. “I wish the band all the success in the future. I will be watching and listening.”

In their statement, the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha said: “We thank Jeff for his ceaseless dedication to the band and our great fans. Words can not express our gratitude and appreciation for the friend he is, and being there for SP in the good times and the tough times, too.”

Schroeder joined the Smashing Pumpkins when the band reunited in the mid-2000s, initially serving as a replacement for founding guitarist James Iha (who eventually rejoined the band and played alongside Schroeder). He did not perform on the 2007 comeback album Zeitgeist, but did take part in the accompanying tour. His first studio album with the group was 2012’s Oceania, and he went on to play on Monuments to an Elegy, Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun., Cyr, and this year’s Atum.

Jeff Schroeder:

It’s easy to say now that when I joined The Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 I had no idea what I was getting into. The opportunity seemed to have come out of nowhere. I was at UCLA working on my doctorate in comparative literature when a close friend messaged me and said The Smashing Pumpkins were looking for a guitar player. Being a huge fan of the band, the audition was something I threw myself into. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. The amount of incredible memories created over the last 16 years with the band are almost too numerous to quantify. Although it was a very difficult decision to make, I’ve decided to leave the band to make some space to explore a slightly different path. I want to thank Billy, Jimmy, James, and Jack [Bates] for being both wonderful bandmates and even better friends. I will absolutely miss sharing the stage with you. I wish the band all the success in the future. I will be watching and listening.

The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha:

We thank Jeff for his ceaseless dedication to the band and our great fans. Words can not express our gratitude and appreciation for the friend he is, and being there for SP in the good times and the tough times, too.