Smashing Pumpkins

[AxlsMainMan]

I wouldn't be surprised if Billy managed to lure James back into the fold, but I personally think D'arcy is gone for good.

Apparently, only bassists have been auditioned by Billy and Jimmy...no guitarists as of yet..

...But unfortunately, I read that a few weeks ago, so who honestly knows at this point..

[stinson4ever]

What are they thinking. two members cant use the same name...ITS A OUTRAGE 

[GnFnR87]

What are they thinking. two members cant use the same name...ITS A OUTRAGE?

haha.

i would love to see the old members, but its not THAT big of a deal really. Corgan was always the primary creative force behind all the songs, the guy pretty much recorded all of Siamese Dream himself with Jimmy on drums. It was all his lyrics and direction, Iha and D'arcy just fit so well and complemented each other musically on stage very very well. but it wont be the end of the world if they're not on board.

[AxlsMainMan]

Even if they don't come on board immediately, theres no reason why they couldn't down the road..

[bazgnr]

Even if they don't come on board immediately, theres no reason why they couldn't down the road..

I truly think, that in this case, what matters is Corgan.  Chamberlain is very important, as his style was a distinct part of the bands sound.  The other two...not so much, in my opinion.   Much like GnR, the band's sound, attitude, spirit, and style lives on in the frontman more than anyone else, regardless of who is in the official lineup, original member or no.

And for those basically saying "it's Zwan" more than the Pumpkins, that's fine by me.  I really dug the Zwan album, and thought it sounded like most of the Pumpkins songs I loved...

[AxlsMainMan]

Zwan kicked serious ass.

"Mary(...of the Sea)"  seldom leaves my car CD player.

Some brilliant driving songs on there, thats forsure

[GnFnR87]

hmm, i think i'll finally check out Zwan. i've only heard the song "Of A Broken Heart", which is amazing.

anyway i still cant get over that they're releasing the album on a saturday, 7/7/07, crazy!!

[AxlsMainMan]

Billy, being an extremely spiritual person, probably doesn't want to miss out on the aura of good luck surrounding 07/07/07

[Dr. Blutarsky]

This new incarnation of the Smashing Pumpkins may as well be Zwan with Billy and Jimmy only. I am still optomisitc though.

[bazgnr]

This new incarnation of the Smashing Pumpkins may as well be Zwan with Billy and Jimmy only. I am still optomisitc though.

And like I said previously, that's fine by me.  I loved the Zwan album, and would welcome more of the same...

[AxlsMainMan]

I wonder if the new record is going to explore uncharted waters, or if Billy is going to take it back to perhaps the "Mellon Collie" sound?

That would be nice..

[GnFnR87]

all i have to say is Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness is really a fantastic record. it took me a while to get into it but it is a very special, and definitely one of a kind.? i think i like it better than Siamese Dream.

does anyone actually like the Machina albums? i dig a couple songs but it just doesnt do much for me.

all i have to say is if this new album even comes close to the epic majesty of Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness i will be happy.

[stinson4ever]

What are they thinking. two members cant use the same name...ITS A OUTRAGE?

haha.

i would love to see the old members, but its not THAT big of a deal really. Corgan was always the primary creative force behind all the songs, the guy pretty much recorded all of Siamese Dream himself with Jimmy on drums. It was all his lyrics and direction, Iha and D'arcy just fit so well and complemented each other musically on stage very very well. but it wont be the end of the world if they're not on board.

It was an attempt at sarcasm which I obviously suck at. Seeing how we are fans of Axl who is constantly criticized for using the name gnr with only 2 partly-original members.

[GnFnR87]

What are they thinking. two members cant use the same name...ITS A OUTRAGE?

haha.

i would love to see the old members, but its not THAT big of a deal really. Corgan was always the primary creative force behind all the songs, the guy pretty much recorded all of Siamese Dream himself with Jimmy on drums. It was all his lyrics and direction, Iha and D'arcy just fit so well and complemented each other musically on stage very very well. but it wont be the end of the world if they're not on board.

It was an attempt at sarcasm which I obviously suck at. Seeing how we are fans of Axl who is constantly criticized for using the name gnr with only 2 partly-original members.

yeah i figured u were only half joking, i just addressed it further cuz  i know alot of other rock fans and specifcically pumpkins fans have been bitching about it.

[WhiteRose]

Fresh Pumpkins Due July 7

Josh Grossberg

Some smashing news for Smashing Pumpkin fans.

A year and a half after announcing their reunion via full-page newspaper ads, Billy Corgan and his merry band of alt-rockers have revealed that Zeitgeist, their first studio album since 2000's Machina: The Machines of God, will drop in July.

In a message on its Website, the Chicago-based band said it will forgo the typical Tuesday release date for a relatively rare Saturday release, making the album available exactly at 7:07 a.m. on July 7, aka 07-07-07.

To build a buzz about the disc and their highly anticipated return, the Pumpkins will take to the road with a series of festival gigs in Europe, starting with the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands on May 28 and continuing with stops in Germany, Portugal, and Italy before wrapping up June 17 at Interlaken, Switzerland.

The band also confirmed that their only scheduled North American concert appearance this year will be headlining the second night of Toronto's inaugural Virgin Music Festival, sponsored by billionaire mogul Richard Branson's Virgin Music Group, on Sept. 9. Other acts on the bill include Bj?rk, who's slated to headline the Sept. 8 show, Interpol, the Killers, Paolo Nutini and Amy Winehouse, among others.

While Pumpkinheads will be glad to see the band's guitarist/frontmant/leader Corgan rejoined by drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, there's no word on the rest of the lineup. Guitarist James Iha and bassist D'Arcy Wretzky remain MIA from the reunion, as does Wretzky's replacement, former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, who joined the quartet for some post-Machina gigs.

One possible fill-in is former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery, who confirmed to MTV News last year that he was rehearsing with the group in the studio.

The Smashing Pumpkins first got together back in 1988. The band's debut album, Gish, came out in 1991, but it was their breakout major-label debut, 1993's Siamese Dream, with the hits "Today" and "Disarm," that turned them into alt-rock superstars.

The Pumpkins followed with Pisces Iscariot in 1994 and hit their peak in 1996 with the Grammy-winning, VMA-dominating double-album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which spawned the singles "Bullet with Butterfly Wings," "Tonight, Tonight," "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" and "1979." But at the height of their popularity, touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died of a drug overdose and Corgan subsequently fired Chamberlin, who was battling his own drug problems.

The Pumpkins stuck with a drum machine for their next release, 1998's Adore, which failed to match the sales of their previous releases.

Chamberlin was allowed back into the band for the recording of Machina in 1999, but Wretzky left shortly thereafter to pursue an acting career. The band played its final show at Chicago's Metro on Dec. 2, 2000.

Corgan and Chamberlin went on to form Zwan, which put out one forgettable disc, before he embarked on an equally inauspicious solo career culminating with the release of 2005's The Future Embrace.

Link: http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/41348237

 

[AxlsMainMan]

Corgan and Chamberlin went on to form Zwan, which put out one forgettable disc...
 

Zwan's album is far from forgettable

I still listen to it regularly.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Zwan had a good abum, I wish they cold have hung together for another one.

[bazgnr]

Corgan and Chamberlin went on to form Zwan, which put out one forgettable disc...
 

Zwan's album is far from forgettable

I still listen to it regularly.

Agreed.  A great album that went largely ignored.  To me, it represents the better elements of the Pumpkins songs I loved...

[Fingers]

As everyone had expected, James Iha won't be part of the reunion-he told Rolling Stone he hasn't spoken to Billy Corgan in years, and is working on his second solo album-I know Billy pretty much played, wrote all the music for Smashing Pumpkins, but does anyone know what he and Billy had the falling out over?

[SLCPUNK]

Too bad, I loved his work.