James Iha

James Yoshinobu Iha (born March 26, 1968) is a Japanese American rock musician, most famous as a guitarist in the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins from 1988 to 2000. He currently lives in Manhattan, New York City and co-owns independent record label Scratchie Records with D'arcy Wretzky, the ex-bassist for the Pumpkins. Scratchie has signed bands such as Fountains of Wayne, The Frogs, and Fulflej.

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Iha wrote or co-wrote some of the Smashing Pumpkins' songs. He wrote "Blew Away" on Pisces Iscariot, "Bugg Superstar" on Earphoria, "Take Me Down" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, "...Said Sadly", "Believe", "The Boy", and "The Bells" on The Aeroplane Flies High, "Summer" on the "Perfect" single and "Go" on MACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music. He co-wrote with Billy Corgan "I Am One" on Gish, "Soma" and "Mayonaise" on Siamese Dream, "Plume" on Pisces Iscariot, "Farewell and Goodnight" on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and "Tribute to Johnny" on The Aeroplane Flies High. He also sang the band's covers of The Cure's "A Night Like This" and Syd Barrett's "Terrapin".

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In 1998, Iha released a semi-successful solo album, Let It Come Down.

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Since the Pumpkins' breakup in 2000, Iha has pursued many projects. He has been a member of rock band A Perfect Circle since July 2003, and appeared on their 2004 album eMOTIVe. He has also appeared on recordings with bands Ivy and Fulflej. Also in 2003, he formed Vanessa and the O's.

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Recently, Iha has collaborated on musical and fashion design projects in Japan. With the help of longtime friend and manager Isao Izutsu, Iha started the clothing label Vapor in 2001. Iha also scored the Japanese film Linda, Linda, Linda, released in late summer 2005.

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In June 2005, Corgan announced plans to reunite with the Pumpkins. Iha has yet to contact Corgan to accept or decline.

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March 26: March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). There are 280 days remaining....

1968: 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar)....

Japanese American: Japanese Americans are a group of people who trace their ancestry to Japan or Okinawa and are residents and/or citizens of the United States. Japan is a western Pacific Ocean multi-archipelagic nation east of the China in Asia. Japanese Americans are a subgroup of East-Asian Americans which is fur...

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