The alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins announced last Friday, the 26th, that Kiki Wong was chosen as the guitarist from among more than 10,000 candidates who applied to fill the position left vacant by Jeff Schroeder in October 2023.
It all started in January when the band posted on their social media that they were looking for a guitarist. The application process, described as "open to anyone who might be interested," required submitting a resume and materials via email.
Out of 10,000 applicants, a small group of finalists auditioned for the position in person in Los Angeles in March.
Who is Kiki Wong?
Kiki Wong is known for her work with the band Vigil Of War and also for her social media presence, where she has amassed 210,000 subscribers on YouTube, 1.3 million followers on TikTok, and 667,000 followers on Instagram.
Speaking about the choice of Kiki, Billy Corgan , vocalist of the Smashing Pumpkins, revealed that he was already familiar with the guitarist's work:
“I was already a fan of Kiki before she signed up, and it’s great that someone with her insight is part of our touring family. I can’t wait to hit the road with Kiki as part of our crazy circus. It’s definitely an exciting time for the Smashing Pumpkins to be so busy touring in 2024. We’ll see you all this summer!”, he said on his social media.
Regarding being chosen, Wong didn't hide her excitement: “I never thought that I, at 15 years old, playing guitar in my room, would reach this moment. This shows that hard work and perseverance really pay off if you are willing to overcome difficulties, so never lose hope. I am very grateful for this opportunity and I can't wait to share the stage with the legendary Smashing Pumpkins!”, Kiki said on social media.
