Billy Corgan Hired Him Based On A Gut Reaction—The same measure he wants the drummer to use when coming up with his own parts. Mike Byrne turns twenty-three this February 6, and three words associated with birthdays prove helpful in introducing the rising star to MD readers: wish, gift, and celebration. Consider it a safe bet that if you’re a musician, you at one time or another made a wish for the opportunity to play with one of your favorite bands. Sure, it’s a pipe dream, and for anyone who started playing as a kid, it’s likely impossible now without the aid of a time machine. But in the summer of 2009, a nineteen-year-old Mike Byrne saw his wish fulfilled. Perhaps even more impressive, though, is that Byrne was not some child prodigy copping Buddy Rich licks while in diapers. He started playing when he was twelve, which brings us […]