Mike Byrne, 19, Smashing Pumpkins' New Drummer

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19-year-old Mike Byrne from Portland, Oregon, is Smashing Pumpkins' new drummer. Byrne auditioned for the job in April, 2009, and beat out the competition of nearly 1,000 other drummers. The band's singer Billy Corgan handpicked Byrne after a 15-minute jam session.

Mike Byrne has played in a number of bands despite his young age - among them Moses, Smell the Roses and the Mercury Tree. He started playing drums when he was 11 years old, and started his first band at 15. He will join the Smashing Pumpkins on August 26 for a couple of small club shows in California.

The Smashing Pumpkins' old drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin, quit the band in March. On the band's website he stated the reason that he could no longer commit 100%.