The Smashing Pumpkins have agreed to pay $10,001 to Laura Melvoin, the widow of the Pumpkins' keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin. Melvoin died of heroin overdose after overdosing with the band's drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin. At the time Chamberlin was arrested on a misdemeanor drug possession charge. Soon after, he was kicked out of the band.
Laura Melvoin filed a lawsuit against Smashing Pumpkins on behalf of her son, 4 months old when his father, Jonathan Melvoin died. The suit claimed that the other band members contributed to Melvoin's death by failing to make sure that he stayed off drugs. As of now the court has not ruled on the agreement.
The Smashing Pumpkins later issued a statement saying the band made a "substantially larger contribution" to the Melvoin's family and that "the particular figures are a private and confidential matter between the band and the Melvoins and no other information will be provided."
Smashing Pumpkins - October 22, 1997
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