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The Smashing Pumpkins Information
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'The Smashing Pumpkins' (formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988) were an influential American alternative rock band.
Less influenced by punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had densely layered and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of psychedelic rock, heavy metal, gothic rock, power pop, shoegazer-style production and, in later recordings, electronica. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgans songs ranged from angry (Bullet with Butterfly Wings) to dour (Disarm) to jubilant (Cherub Rock).
Selling more than 12 million albums in the United States alone, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s, but infighting, diminishing sales, and cultural vitality hampered the band in their later years, leading to a 2000 break-up. Recently, Corgan has announced a desire to reform the band.
Members
The Smashing Pumpkins were originally 'Billy Corgan' (guitar and vocals), 'James Iha' (guitar), 'D'arcy Wretzky' (bass) and 'Jimmy Chamberlin' (drums). However, 'Melissa auf der Maur' replaced D'arcy in the final year (Dec. 1999 to Dec. 2000) of the band. The band also dealt with several replacement drummers through 1997 - 1998 including 'Matt Walker' and 'Kenny Aronoff'.
History
Early years: Foundation and Gish
At the age of 19, singer and guitarist Billy Corgan left his native Chicago, Illinois, moving to St. Petersburg, Florida with his goth band The Marked, so called because of the birth marks on his and his drummer's hands. The band had limited success and quickly dissolved. Corgan returned to Chicago, taking a job in a record store. There, he met guitarist James Iha. They began writing songs with the aid of a drum machine. In 1988, Corgan met bassist D'arcy Wretzky during an argument at another band's gig in Chicago; Wretzky would join the band shortly after. Wretzky and Iha would eventually have a short-lived personal relationship. They played their first gig as a trio at a Polish bar. Jazz drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was brought in to the band after Cabaret Metro owner Joe Shanahan agreed to book the Pumpkins to open for Jane's Addiction, provided they threw out the drum machine and recruited a human drummer instead.
In 1989, the group had recorded a handful of demo tapes, which appeared on the 1995 bootleg release Early 1989 Demos. They released their first record, a limited edition single called "I Am One" in 1990 on local Chicago label Limited Potential. The single sold out and they released another single, "Tristessa" on Sub Pop Records, after which they signed to Virgin Records. To give them indie credibility, Virgin matched the band with Sonic Youth producer Butch Vig and recorded their 1991 debut album Gish in his own studio, Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. They released the album on Virgin subsidiary label Caroline Records. Although the album is often associated with silent film actress Lillian Gish, Corgan has alleged that the record was not named for her. The music fused heavy metal guitars, psychedelia and dream pop. The album became a minor success. During the Gish tour, Iha and Wretzky went through a messy breakup, Chamberlin became addicted to narcotics and alcohol and Corgan entered a deep depression, writing some songs for the upcoming album in the parking garage where he lived at the time. Gish was overshadowed by the monumental release of Nirvana's Nevermind.
Siamese Dream : Mainstream success
To counteract his depression, Corgan worked overtime, saying he practically lived in the studio for the 1993 follow up album, Siamese Dream. Contemporary music press portrayed Corgan as somewhat of a tyrant during the recording sessions, with rumors circulating that he had recorded all the guitar and bass parts himself, claims which band members say were greatly exaggerated. It was never confirmed exactly how much each member participated on the album, although Billy did say he performed a majority of the guitar work, but only because he wrote the songs. On songs such as Soma on Siamese Dream, Corgan looped up to 40 heavily distorted guitars, a technique that critics thought could not be reproduced live.
A bad case of writer's block came upon Corgan before recording and he feared he may not be able to finish an entire album's worth of songs. His writer's block is the subject of the song "Hummer".
The album was recorded at Triclops Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, mostly between December 1992 and March 1993, with Butch Vig reprising his role as producer; the band lived in Marietta during the Siamese Dream recording sessions. The decision to record so far away from their hometown was motivated partially to keep away from local friends and distractions during the recording, but largely as a desperate attempt to cut Chamberlin off from his known drug connections. In this respect, the strategy failed miserably, as Chamberlin quickly managed to find new connections and often was absent without any contact for days at a time; he was once randomly discovered as far away as Athens, Georgia.
Corgan went on record saying if the record didn't sell well, the band would break up. Siamese Dream sold four million copies in the US, and the videos for the songs "Today" and "Disarm" garnered the Pumpkins international attention through heavy rotation on MTV. The album is generally considered to be the band's finest work.
In 1994, Virgin released a B-sides/rarities compilation Pisces Iscariot and a concert video Vieuphoria. A CD version of Vieuphoria, entitled Earphoria was released to radio stations only. In 2002, Vieuphoria (on DVD) and Earphoria were released to the public.
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Following relentless touring to support the recordings, the band took time off to write the follow up album. Corgan worked non-stop over the next year and wrote, according to statements in interviews, about 56 songs for the next album. Following this spell of concentrated creativity, the Pumpkins went back into the studio with producers Flood and Alan Moulder to work on what Corgan described as "The Wall of the '90s," a comparison with Pink Floyd's famous double concept album.
The result was Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, a double-disc (triple on vinyl) album release featuring 28 songs and lasting over 2 hours. While the idea of an overriding concept was dropped somewhere along the way, (although many would argue the arrangement of the tracks on the album depicts the story of a disenchanted youngster going through the motions; hence, the argument made that it is a concept album) Mellon Collie became even more successful than Siamese Dream, selling over sixteen million copies worldwide. It also garnered seven 1996 Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year. Its hit songs included "Bullet with Butterfly Wings", "Tonight, Tonight," "1979" and "Zero." Many of the remaining songs that, for one reason or another, did not make it onto Mellon Collie were released as B-sides to the singles, eventually compiled in the now out of print The Aeroplane Flies High box set.
In May 1996, the Smashing Pumpkins played a gig in The Point Depot in Dublin, Ireland. The venue was over-crowded and despite the band's repeated requests for moshing to stop, a 17-year-old fan from Cork, Bernadette O'Brien, was crushed to death. The concert ended early and the following night's performance in Belfast was cancelled out of respect for her. Corgan later said that he considered quitting show business for good after the event.
The band's fortunes changed significantly on July 12, 1996, when touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in a hotel room in New York City. Melvoin died, and Chamberlin was arrested for drug possession. Chamberlin was subsequently fired from the band (though later rehired).
Though the band finished the tour with another drummer and keyboardist, their profile had taken a marked downturn. Billy Corgan became something of a hate figure amongst the hard rock press following a statement in which he declared rock to be dead. He stated that Mellon Collie would be the last Pumpkins record of that type, and that rock was, for himself at least, becoming stale due to a lack of experimentation.
Adore
:Main article: Adore
Recorded following the death of Corgan's mother, 1998's Adore represented a significant change of style from the Pumpkins' previous guitar based rock, veering into electronica, trimming much of the guitar-driven sonic underpinnings and infused with a slightly darker aesthetic. The record was cut using drum machines and was distinctly experimental in the vein of post-punk bands such as Depeche Mode, New Order, and The Cure (all of whom Corgan enjoyed in his youth). Corgan also modified his public image, shedding his alternative hipster look for a dark Gothic persona. In a rare interview on a Tokyo radio station, Corgan stated that his favorite song on the album was "Blank Page". Although Adore received quite favorable reviews and was nominated for Best Alternative Performance at the Grammys, the album sold only 3 million copies. In hindsight, Billy realized that Adore suffered from Jimmy's absence whom he considered as his most important influence (and best friend) when it comes to shaping each song during rehearsals; not to mention Jimmy's incredibly complex and jazzy drumming that no drum machine could reproduce. All in all, Adore was too much of a muted effort for many fans; the lukewarm reception was one factor contributing to their now dwindling audience.
Machina
The return of a rehabilitated Jimmy Chamberlin for 2000's MACHINA/The Machines of God signaled a return to a more familiar Pumpkins sound, but failed to widely connect with fans. MACHINA also brought Corgan's desire to write a concept album to fruition.
The band's lineup changed again at this point. Bass player Wretzky departed after the recording of MACHINA/The Machines of God, and former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur was recruited for the "Sacred and Profane" tour in support of the album.
MACHINA was initially promoted as the Pumpkins' return to form, after the more gothic, electronic-sounding Adore; however, on its release, many reviewers and fans took issue with the album's "Wall of Sound" production, finding that what was intended to have been a reappearance of the band's signature rock sound had been overprocessed - in particular, stripping away the warmth and nuance for which Iha's and Corgan's guitar work had become known. In addition, many longtime fans became disenchanted with the conceptual nature of the album, and with its mystical and spiritual themes which Corgan in particular had begun to promulgate.
Machina II & Breakup
On May 23, 2000 in a live radio interview on KROQ (Los Angeles), Billy Corgan announced the band's decision to break up at the end of that year following additional touring and recording. In a first for an established band, the group's final album, MACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, was released in September 2000 in a limited pressing on vinyl with permission and instructions for free redistribution on the Internet by fans. Only 25 copies were cut, each of which was hand numbered and given to friends of the band along with band members themselves. The album contained 2 LP's and 3 EP's released under the Constantinople Records label, created by Corgan. This is the only Smashing Pumpkins album released that is not under the Virgin Records label.
On August 5, 2005 the estimated value of Machina II was discovered as the Q101 copy (#19) was put up for sale on eBay. The seller decided to end the auction four days early when the bidding had reached $10,000 from a bidder in France. This bidder has since disclosed that there was a mutual agreement after the auction was ended to cancel the sale transaction. It remains to be seen if this copy (or any other) will go up for sale again publicly in the near future, but clearly the whole incident shows that an original vinyl copy could easily fetch upwards of five-figure sums given the current market.
On December 2, 2000, the Smashing Pumpkins played their final concert at The Metro, the same Chicago club where their career had effectively started twelve years earlier. The Smashing Pumpkins' final commercial recording was a single, "Untitled" released to coincide with the final show. A DVD of the 4 hour concert (3 main sets and 4 encores in total) is rumored to be released in the future.
Post Breakup
2001 saw the release of a greatest hits compilation, Rotten Apples (Greatest Hits), which included various singles spanning their decade-long career. The now rare double disc version of the album, released as a limited edition, included a B-sides/rarities collection called Judas 0. A greatest hits DVD was also released around the same time. It compiled all of the Pumpkins promo videos from Gish to MACHINA, the rare promo for "I Am One", a 15 minute short film called "Try" as well as a TV performance of "Geek U.S.A.". It also features the performance of "Fuck You (An Ode To No One)" from their final gig at the Metro. (There is one notable omission, "The End Is the Beginning Is the End", used in the Batman and Robin soundtrack. This is excluded because the rights are owned by Warner Brothers, who loaned out the band from their regular label, Virgin Records.)
Corgan and Chamberlin would reunite in 2001 as members of Corgan's next project, the shortlived Zwan. Their only album, Mary Star of the Sea, was released to mixed reviews, and after cancelling a few festival appearances Corgan announced the demise of the band in 2003 under cloudy circumstances.
On February 17, 2004, Billy Corgan posted a bitter message on his personal blog calling Wretzky a "mean-spirited drug addict" and blaming Iha for the breakup of The Smashing Pumpkins. On June 3, 2004, he added that "the depth of my hurt [from Iha] is only matched with the depth of my gratitude". In October, 2004, Corgan released his first book, a book of poetry entitled Blinking with Fists. He has also released a solo album, entitled TheFutureEmbrace. At the same time, Jimmy Chamberlin pursued a hobby in car-racing in Florida. Currently, Jimmy Chamberlin is touring with his new band The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex whose first album, entitled Life Begins Again, features Billy Corgan singing a track entitled "Lokicat". James Iha has completed his work as a guitarist in A Perfect Circle and is currently appearing with other acts such as Chino Moreno's Team Sleep, and Vanessa and the O's. He continues to work with his own record label as well, Scratchie Records. D'arcy Wretzky has not made any statements or appearances since leaving the band in 1999.
Possible Reunion
On June 21 2005, the day of the release of Corgan's album TheFutureEmbrace, Billy took out a full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune newspaper to announce that he planned to reunite the band. "For a year now," Corgan wrote, "I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams."
Corgan appeared on Chicago morning television to discuss the advertisement and his new album, but gave little elaboration to the actual newspaper advertisement.
No other information was given as to the lineup or possible releases from the group, and he did not say when he would try to reform the Pumpkins. He signed the message off with the Pumpkins traditional logo. Jimmy Chamberlin is the only member that has publicly confirmed interest in joining up with former Smashing Pumpkins band members. Within the first few days after the publication of his ad, Chamberlin gave a press interview where in he said he had not heard from D'arcy in years but still remained in e-mail contact with James Iha. D'arcy is currently living in Rockford, Michigan on her farm breeding horses. James is currently living in New York. He has been spotted near several delis and small clubs.
Discography
Studio Albums
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | 'Other information' | 'US Chart Position' | 'US Sales' | 'UK Chart Position' | | 1991 | Gish | Caroline | CD | 195 | 1,100,000 | - | | 1993 | Siamese Dream | Virgin | CD, released on vinyl as two red EPs | 10 | 4,600,000 | 4 | | 1994 | Gish | Virgin | Rerelease, remaster, CD, LP | - | - | - | | 1995 | Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness | Virgin | double CD - triple LP, released on vinyl as six 5 track EPs with revisited tracklisting and two bonus tracks | 1 (1 week) | 4,700,000 | 4 | | 1998 | Adore | Virgin | CD | 2 | 1,100,000 | 5 | | 2000 | MACHINA/The Machines of God | Virgin | CD | 3 | 583,000 | 7 | | 2000 | MACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music | Constantinople | 3 EPs of b-sides & 1 LP; only 25 made - the band encouraged free online distribution | - | - | - |
Sales listed are as of May 2005.
EPs and B-sides
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | 'Other information' | 'US Chart Position' | 'US Sales' | 'UK Chart Position' | | 1991 | Lull | Caroline | EP | - | - | - | | 1994 | Pisces Iscariot | Virgin | CD collection of B-sides | 4 | 1,300,000 | - | | 2001 | Judas 0 | Virgin | limited edition bonus CD to Rotten Apples (see below); a collection B-sides meant to "sequel" Pisces Iscariot | - | - | - |
Live and compilations
| 'Year' | 'Title' | 'Label' | 'Other information' | 'US Chart Position' | 'US Sales' | 'UK Chart Position' | | 1994 | Earphoria | Virgin | audio companion-piece to Vieuphoria - very limited promotional CD; full release in 2002 | - | - | - | | 1994 | Vieuphoria | Virgin | live VHS; re-released on DVD with additional bonus material in 2002 | - | - | - | 1995 | Early 1989 Demos | - | unofficial release, originally recorded in 1989 | - | - | - | | 1996 | The Aeroplane Flies High | Virgin | box set of 5 expanded CD singles | 42 | 307,000 | - | | 2001 | Rotten Apples (Greatest Hits) | Virgin | CD; a limited edition included Judas O (see above) | 31 | 729,000 | 28 | | 2001 | Greatest Hits Video Collection | Virgin | DVD and VHS release; includes all music videos except "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" and the retrospective edit of "Untitled" | - | - | - |
Bootlegs
In addition to official releases, there are a wide variety of bootleg and rare tracks circulating on the web. Among the most substantial ones for the curious would probably be included the following:
*Metro 1988-10-05 - a recording of their first gig at the Cabaret Metro; given as a special gift to all attendees of their final concert.
*Reel Time Sessions - two 1989 recording sessions (one electric, one acoustic) of early material.
*Mashed Potatoes - a five-disc set of rare recordings from 1988 to 1993. Compiled and distributed by Corgan personally for nine close members of family and friends for Christmas 1993.
*Mellon Collie Demos - several different tapes of recordings from late 1994 and early 1995.
*Gravity Demos - mostly instrumental demos made in 1994 during a break in the Siamese Dream tour.
*Adore Demos - recorded in 1997; includes two demos for "The End is the Beginning Is the End", a track for the Batman and Robin soundtrack.
*Machina Acoustic Demos - demos recorded solo by Corgan in late 1998
*1979 (Andrew Casrics Rework) - 1000 Pressed vinyl copies of this club hit taking the original to the dancefloor
*The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music - studio demos from 1999 and two live tracks from a Halloween 1998 show. Not to be confused with Machina II.
You can find some of these, along with other material, at , among other places.
Music videos
*Siva from Gish
*Rhinoceros from Gish
*I Am One from Gish (this video was finally released in 2001 on the Greatest Hits DVD)
*Cherub Rock from Siamese Dream
*Today from Siamese Dream
*Disarm from Siamese Dream
*Rocket from Siamese Dream
*Bullet with Butterfly Wings from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*1979 from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*Zero from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*Tonight, Tonight from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*Thirty-Three from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
*The End is the Beginning is the End from Batman and Robin OST
*Ava Adore from Adore
*Perfect from Adore
*The Everlasting Gaze from MACHINA/The Machines of God
*Stand Inside Your Love from MACHINA/The Machines of God
*Try, Try, Try from MACHINA/The Machines of God
*Untitled from Rotten Apples
The music videos are collected on "The Smashing Pumpkins Greatest Hits Video Collection: 1991-2000," available on DVD. The End Is the Beginning Is the End was not included, since it was licensed to Warner Brothers. A version of Untitled shot in the studio during its recording is included as an easter egg; the popular live montage version was omitted for reasons unknown.
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