Darsi Retski Rock musician. Date of Birth: 01.05.1968 Country: USA

1. Childhood and Early Life
2. Post-Punk Influences and Joining Smashing Pumpkins
3. Turbulent Tenure with the Smashing Pumpkins
4. Musical Contributions and Collaborations
5. Personal Struggles and Legal Issues
6. Post-Smashing Pumpkins Life
7. Quotes and Trivia

Childhood and Early Life

D'arcy Wretzky was born in Michigan, where she grew up with her sisters, Tanya and Molly. She was a talented musician from a young age, playing the violin, oboe, and singing in a choir. Despite her musical abilities, D'arcy also engaged in gymnastics. Her father, a construction worker and avid horseback rider, was described by D'arcy as "a very strange man." As a young girl, D'arcy was known as a "tomboy" and had a difficult relationship with her sisters.

Post-Punk Influences and Joining Smashing Pumpkins

During her school years, D'arcy became interested in post-punk music and played in several bands. After graduating, she traveled to France to join a band, but the group had disbanded by the time she arrived. D'arcy spent the summer in Chicago with friends, attending various concerts.

One fateful night at the local nightclub "Avalon," D'arcy overheard Billy Corgan criticizing the band that was performing. A heated discussion ensued, and Corgan eventually invited D'arcy to join his band. This was the final piece of the puzzle for the newly formed Smashing Pumpkins, which at that point consisted of Corgan, guitarist James Iha, and a drum machine. D'arcy was brought in as the bassist. A few months later, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin joined the band after Corgan decided to ditch the drum machine.

Turbulent Tenure with the Smashing Pumpkins

D'arcy's time with the band was marked by extreme mood swings, ranging from euphoric to irritable. Corgan described her as the "conscience of the band." After the success of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in 1995, Corgan stated that D'arcy had started to "spiral down further and further into madness and/or drugs (you decide)." D'arcy eventually left the band in 1999, intending to pursue an acting career. Corgan later admitted that D'arcy had been fired because she had developed a severe drug addiction and refused to seek help or get sober. Her replacement on bass was former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.

Musical Contributions and Collaborations

As a bassist, D'arcy Wretzky performed on five Smashing Pumpkins albums: Gish, Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Adore, and MACHINA/The Machines of God. Her vocals can be heard on the songs "Daydream" from Gish, "Farewell and Goodnight" and "Beautiful" from Mellon Collie, and "Dreaming" from The Aeroplane Flies High. D'arcy also co-wrote the song "Daughter." She has no current affiliation with the band.

In addition to her work with the Smashing Pumpkins, D'arcy had a brief romantic relationship with bandmate James Iha in the early '90s, which added tension to the recording process of Siamese Dream. D'arcy married Catherine guitarist Kerry Brown in 1994. She contributed to their 1996 album Hot Saki and Bedtime Stories, providing vocals on the songs "Punch Me Out" and "Four Leaf Clover" and appearing in the music video for the latter. D'arcy later divorced Brown. She reportedly remains on friendly terms with James Iha. Notably, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin recorded Zeitgeist at Brown's home studio in 2006.

Personal Struggles and Legal Issues

On January 25, 2000, D'arcy Wretzky was arrested in Chicago after purchasing cocaine. According to police reports, three undercover officers witnessed D'arcy and a companion enter a building on West Grand Avenue and quickly return to their car upon exiting. The driver, identified as Tony Young, made two illegal U-turns with his headlights off, prompting the police to pull the car over. A subsequent search revealed drugs in Young's pocket. Young claimed that he was not the owner of the drugs, stating that D'arcy had "asked him to hold the rocks for her." During questioning, D'arcy admitted to giving Young three baggies of cocaine. The legal proceedings ended relatively favorably for D'arcy, with the charges being dismissed after she completed a drug diversion program.

Post-Smashing Pumpkins Life

D'arcy Wretzky currently resides in Watervliet, Michigan. She owns a horse farm and three antique stores. One of her horses, Jet Set Miss, was accepted into the Arabian Horse Pilot Program in August 2000. D'arcy credits Duran Duran bassist John Taylor as a major influence on her bass playing. Her favorite bands include The Beatles, the Stooges, Nirvana, Queen, and the Rolling Stones.

Quotes and Trivia

"I would never have made it in a band if I hadn't had the experience of growing up with my sisters since the day I was born. My eldest sister was a very jealous person. She locked me outside one winter when I was dressed only in a diaper... I have been drowned countless times. And I have returned the favor. Remember in Apocalypse Now when Brando says you have to terrify people to get them to do your bidding? Well, I was this little imp of a kid who would do unspeakable things. I was known for throwing knives at a target. I became a tomboy because self-defense was necessary. I played cowboys and Indians instead of dolls, and most of my friends were boys."

D'arcy was involved in a car accident during her senior year of high school, which resulted in a broken leg. She had to undergo surgery and was reportedly given an overdose of morphine, earning her the nickname "Sister Morphine."

Rumors circulated that she had a relationship with actor Mickey Rourke.

She is a devoted Fender user and employs both the Jazz Bass and Precision Bass.

One of her most notable basses is an American "sticker" Jazz bass, likely a reissue of a '75 with a rosewood fingerboard and white inlays, with black/white/black pickups. D'arcy used this bass extensively on the Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie tours.

Her infamous "rat" bass: The neck was originally a standard neck with the "Fender Precision Bass" logo. This one is likely a one-piece maple. The finish, which had been all but crystallized, was also restored. This bass was mostly used on the Gish tour but has been sighted since.

"Star" bass: Most likely seen in the Zero video. This bass was always tuned a half-step down and was used extensively on the Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie tours.

D'arcy primarily uses Mesa Boogie amplifiers... especially on tour. She has also used Ampegs, which she used for an acoustic version of "Cherub Rock" with Viephoria. It is hard to see in the video, but it is most definitely an Ampeg... my guess would be a 200-watt version.

Prior to joining The Smashing Pumpkins, D'arcy worked as a waitress in a coffee shop and at a motorcycle shop.

Scratchie Records: She was the vice president and co-founder, along with James Iha. She is no longer affiliated with the label.

Billy Corgan on D'arcy's departure from the band: "There was just a whole series of different things that pushed her to the point where she was. It was awful, and I told her that leaving this band might save your life—just leaving this band."