Hole [ tickets ] confirmed this week the much-rumored departure of bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur. "The fabulous Melissa is an extremely talented artist and wishes to grow in many different directions," Hole leader Courtney Love said in a press release. "We wish her well."

The statement comes more than a month after the band's publicist at Geffen Records denied rumors of Auf Der Maur's departure.

Hole is casting a wide net in its search for a bass player, but those packing Y-chromosomes need not apply: the band is limiting its ''global search'' to female candidates. Aspiring Hole members are asked to mail two photos of themselves, a biography describing their style and influences, and a demo tape to: BASS PLAYER, PMB 394, 2658 Griffith Park Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90039.

Auf Der Maur joined Hole in 1994 after the band's founding bassist, Kristen Pfaff, died of a drug overdose. It was a strong recommendation from Smashing Pumpkins [ tickets ]' Billy Corgan that first led Love to call Auf Der Maur in for an audition. Corgan had been impressed by Auf Der Maur when her previous band Tinker [ tickets ] opened for Smashing Pumpkins in 1993.

Auf Der Maur hasn't commented on her future plans, but it is widely rumored that she will take over bass duties for Smashing Pumpkins, which recently announced the departure of founding bassist D'arcy Wretzky.

Hole's far-reaching statement -- first released to MTV -- also says that Love recently completed the filming of ''Beat in Mexico,'' a forthcoming movie about the lives of William and Joan Burroughs. She will also co-star in ''Man on the Moon,'' an Andy Kaufman biography film set for a Christmas release.

Rolling Stone reports that Love is making plans to direct her first feature film, which will reportedly be based on ''Bye Bye Baby,'' a book about the Bay City Rollers by Caroline Sullivan.