From Sonicnet

Pumpkins Confirm Addition of Ex-Hole Bassist

The Smashing Pumpkins announced on Tuesday (Nov. 30) that former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur will join the band as a touring member, confirming weeks of speculation. She'll perform with the Pumpkins on their world outing scheduled to begin in January, in advance of their fifth album, MACHINA/The Machines of God (Feb. 29). The bassist replaces Pumpkins co-founder D'Arcy Wretzky, who left the group in September. Hole announced that same month that Auf der Maur was quitting to pursue other interests. MACHINA/The Machines of God marks the return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, who was ousted from the band in 1996 after the heroin-related death of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin.