Melissa Auf der Maur on Hole, Smashing Pumpkins & more (Montreal)

This week we welcome Melissa Auf der Maur to hear about her new book Even The Good Girls Cry - out now on Atlantic Books.

Our starting point is Montreal as Melissa recounts growing up listening to The Cure & The Smiths, studying photography & seeing Hole & Smashing Pumpkins in one week in 1991 - both bands she would later join.

On her first meeting with Hole, Melissa in forced to un-invite the band to stay at her apartment after the roommate objects after seeing Courtney Love in Straight To Hell alongside Joe Strummer.

After picking up the bass at age 21, her first band Tinker open for the Smashing Pumpkins in Montreal after Melissa writes a letter to Billy Corgan.

Shortly after the opportunity arises to join Hole - at first Melissa is hesitant but is soon won over after being flown to L.A. to meet the band.

She took photos the whole time - ending up with an archive of over 15,000 pictures - some of which will feature in a new photo book in the Autumn.

Hole are offered the chance to appear on The Simpsons - however their management inexplicably turn it down & the Smashing Pumpkins, Cypress Hill & Sonic Youth appear in their place.

The band are under pressure to deliver on 1998’s Celebrity Skin album as they juggle their schedule around Courtney Love’s burgeoning acting career.

Melissa leaves Hole shortly after a notable appearance at Glastonbury in 1999 & joins the Smashing Pumpkins - her favourite band.

She plays over a hundred shows in just under a year - with gigs often running as long as 3 hours, with over a hundred songs to learn.

Melissa reconnected with Courtney Love, Patty Schemel & Billy Corgan subsequently & today owns & operates Basilica Hudson an arts centre in Hudson, New York.

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