Renowned Jessica Simpson collaborator, Billy Corgan has announced that he will hold open auditions to find a new bassist and keyboard player for The Smashing Pumpkins.

The band recruited new 20 year old drummer Mike Byrne through similar auditions last year and it is widely tipped that whoever gets roped in as a new Smashing Pumpkin will soon be on tour with the band.

In an indication of Corgan’s current musical direction, the audition notice requests a keyboardist “who is a fan of and can play in the prog-rock style of Jon Lord [Deep Purple] and and Rick Wakeman [Yes].”

Continuing the infinite sadness of Corgan’s attempts to drag the Pumpkins name on, he recently told Rolling Stone that he’s among the best artists in the world. “Do I belong in the conversation about the best artists in the world? My answer is yes, I do,” Corgan bleated. “I’ve been too productive for too long, and despite what anybody wants to strip away from me, I am influential. I am. So all the Pitchforks in the world can try to strip me of every ounce of dignity, but I belong.”

Bassists and keyboardists looking to play with one of the greatest artists in the world should send a resume including recorded work and photos to pumpkinsbass@gmail.com or pumpkinskeys@gmail.com by 31 March.