Kristin "Kiki" Wong (born April 15, 1989[3]) is an American musician known for being the touring guitarist of alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins. In the 2010s she performed with artists such as Taylor Swift and Usher, and was a member of girl band Nylon Pink. While in Nylon Pink she started a popular travel blog with one of her bandmates, which ultimately led to her accumulating over a million TikTok followers. In 2024, Wong was selected from 10,000 applicants to join the Smashing Pumpkins as their live guitarist, with Billy Corgan later commenting that he was already a fan before her application.
Kiki Wong | |
|---|---|
 Wong in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kristin Wong[1] |
| Born | April 15, 1989 |
| Genres | |
Career
editWong says she has played piano since she was six, guitar since age thirteen, and drums since age sixteen.[4] Her first professional gig was as a member of girl band Nylon Pink.[5][6] Wong's other work includes drumming for Taylor Swift at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, playing with Usher at CBS's Fashion Rocks Fall 2014, and playing lead guitar for Bret Michaels of Poison in a Nissan commercial.[7][8]
In 2016, Wong started a travel blog with Kaila Yu, singer of Nylon Pink. Within six months it had 100,000 visitors a month and Wong was making appearances on TV news to discuss her travel experiences.[9][1] When the COVID-19 pandemic stopped plans for travel to Estonia, Thailand and South Africa, Wong and Yu instead started posting on TikTok. Wong then started posting videos of herself playing guitar, which Inked magazine says "earned her true viral star status".[1] As of 2023, Wong had 655,000 Instagram followers and 1.3 million TikTok followers.[6]
Wong was chosen from 10,000 applicants to play with the Smashing Pumpkins after former member Jeff Schroeder announced he was leaving the band in 2023. Wong auditioned in person in March 2024, was announced as the band's new guitarist in April, and played her first show with the Smashing Pumpkins in June, a tour date with Weezer.[7] Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan has said he was a fan of Wong before she applied to join the band.[10]
Personal life
editWong graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Science on a pre-medical track.
Wong is a Korean and Chinese American. She has a son, Jet, who was born in 2023.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Kristin (Kiki) Wong". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ ""I haven't felt joy like that since my baby was born!": Kiki Wong on landing the gig with The Smashing Pumpkins". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
Known for posting her 'Shrednanigans' on Instagram, the metal guitarist has shared her immense shredding skill online for years – and Billy Corgan has been a longtime fan.
- ^ Wong, Kiki [@kikiwongo] (April 15, 2023). "It's my birthday! 🎂🎸 Here's to another year of existence. It's been one whirlwind of a journey the last few years. From living in a 400 sq ft studio apartment grinding out guitar videos every day for two years straight to building a whole new life and family with my love @neil_diemond and baby Jet, I can't describe how grateful I am for every step of the journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Most importantly, I am grateful for each and every one of you supporting and watching my videos. For those who have been here from the beginning Nylon Pink days, fans and supports of She Demons and @vigilofwar , those who followed my travel and food adventures with @kailayu and those who stumbled upon my guitar videos in your feeds, thank you for taking the time to appreciate the music and metuhlll. So here's to 34! And hopefully many more!" – via Instagram.
- ^ Daly, Andrew (2024-05-21). ""I may not be the absolute best player out there – in fact, I know I'm not! But what I have is an undying love for guitar and heavy metal": Kiki Wong landed the gig of a lifetime with the Smashing Pumpkins – and she knows she has big shoes to fill". guitarworld. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ a b "Meet the Smashing Pumpkins new guitarist, Kiki Wong, chosen out of 10,000 applicant". NBC News. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ a b Daly, Andrew (2023-11-17). ""I find honing my tone to be the perpetual chasing of my tail – once I feel I've gotten close, I hear something new, and it's back to the drawing board": Even with massive TikTok and Instagram followings, Kiki Wong is still trying to find the perfect tone". guitarworld. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ a b Pilley, Max (2024-06-14). "New Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Kiki Wong speaks out after first shows with band". NME. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
Kiki Wong is a Los Angeles rock guitarist who plays in Vigil of War. Among her claims to fame is playing drums for Taylor Swift's performance of "Shake It Off" at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (2024-04-26). "The Smashing Pumpkins, After Public Casting Call, Announce Kiki Wong as New Touring Guitarist". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
Wong has performed with Taylor Swift at the 2014 VMA's, Usher at CBS's Fashion Rocks Fall 2014 and was the lead guitarist for Bret Michaels in a commercial for Nissan.
- ^ Preston, Devon (2021-10-27). "Fender Bender". Inked. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ Duran, Anagricel (2024-04-26). "Smashing Pumpkins reveal new guitarist after receiving over 10,000 public applications". NME. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
Wong will join the band – comprised of Corgan, guitarist James Iha, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, plus touring members Jack Bates (bass) and Katie Cole (guitar, keys, vocals) – in the UK and Europe at the beginning of June where they will make their debut as a new lineup