As its next album nears completion, Wilco is undergoing another shake-up.
Multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach told band members he wants to leave the group to pursue other projects, the band’s Web site confirmed Wednesday.
Bach joined the band in 1998 as a keyboardist and worked on “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” Wilco’s acclaimed 2002 album. During the making of that album and immediately after, Wilco lost drummer Ken Coomer and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett.
Wilco’s follow-up to “Foxtrot” is to be released June 8. All indications are that Bach’s departure was far less contentious than those of Coomer and Bennett, who were fired.
Corgan solos: Billy Corgan has begun work on his first solo album, in which he will collaborate with Bon Harris of the pioneering British electronic band Nitzer Ebb, his Web site said.
Corgan remains signed to Warner Bros. Records and expects to have the album out by the end of the year.
“I am excited to work on this music, because for the first time in my life it will be my own tunes with no compromises to anyone or anything,” Corgan said on his Web site.
Corgan’s band, Zwan, broke up last year after releasing one album. Previously, the singer-guitarist fronted the Smashing Pumpkins.
