SMASHING PUMPKINS, THE - GISH - GRAY & PINK SPLATTER

The Smashing Pumpkins, also known simply as Smashing Pumpkins, are an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1988 by vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Since the band's formation, Corgan has been its principal songwriter and only constant member. The current line-up consists of Corgan, Iha and Chamberlin. The band's music combines elements of alternative rock with influences from gothic rock, heavy metal, grunge, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze, dream pop and electronica. Over the course of their career, the band's musical style has evolved considerably. The Smashing Pumpkins released their debut studio album, "Gish", in 1991. It received positive reviews and achieved underground success. Their second album, "Siamese Dream" (1993), brought the band wider commercial recognition during the rise of alternative rock in the early 1990s. Their third album, "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" (1995) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and became one of the band's most commercially successful releases. Following the releases of "Adore" (1998), "Machina/The Machines of God" (2000) and the companion album "Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music" (2000), the band disbanded later that year. By that time, the group had sold approximately 30 million albums worldwide and had become one of the most commercially successful alternative rock bands of the 1990s. Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin reformed the band in 2006 to record the album "Zeitgeist" (2007). During the following years, Corgan continued recording with changing line-ups, releasing material as part of the "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" project, including the albums "Oceania" (2012) and "Monuments to an Elegy" (2014). Chamberlin returned as a touring member in 2015 and officially rejoined the band alongside James Iha in 2018. Since then, the band has released "Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." (2018), "Cyr" (2020), "Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts" (2022-2023) and "Aghori Mhori Mei" (2024). Long-time guitarist Jeff Schroeder left the band in 2023. Billy Corgan formed the Smashing Pumpkins after returning to Chicago from Florida following the break-up of his previous band, the Marked. He met guitarist James Iha while working in a record shop, and the two began writing songs using a drum machine, drawing inspiration from bands such as the Cure and New Order. Their first live performance took place on 9 July 1988 at Chicago 21, a Polish bar in Chicago. At the time, the line-up consisted only of Corgan and Iha, accompanied by a drum machine. Soon afterwards, Corgan met bassist D'arcy Wretzky after a discussion following a concert by Dan Reed Network. Wretzky joined the group, and the trio performed at the Avalon Nightclub. After that performance, Cabaret Metro owner Joe Shanahan agreed to book the band on the condition that they replace the drum machine with a live drummer. Jazz drummer Jimmy Chamberlin subsequently joined, completing the original line-up, which first performed together on 5 October 1988 at Cabaret Metro. The band first appeared on record in 1989 with the compilation album "Light Into Dark". Their debut single, "I Am One", was released in 1990 on the Chicago label Limited Potential, followed by "Tristessa" on Sub Pop. They subsequently signed with Caroline Records and recorded "Gish" with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. During the recording process, Corgan performed many of the guitar and bass parts himself. Following the release of "Gish", the band toured with acts including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction and Guns N' Roses before signing with Virgin Records. The recording of "Siamese Dream" took place in Marietta, Georgia, with Butch Vig again producing. Internal tensions, including disagreements over recording methods and personal difficulties within the band, marked the sessions. Despite these issues, the album reached number ten on the Billboard 200 and sold more than four million copies in the United States. Although often associated with the grunge movement during this period, the band did not identify itself as part of that genre. In 1994, Virgin Records released the compilation "Pisces Iscariot", which reached number four on the Billboard 200. The VHS release "Vieuphoria" was also issued that year. Corgan later distributed a limited five-CD box set, "Mashed Potatoes", to friends of the band, containing demos, interviews and live recordings from 1988 to 1993. During 1995, the band recorded "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" with producers Flood and Alan Moulder. Conceived as a double album, it consisted of 28 songs centred on themes of life and death. Released in October 1995, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and became the best-selling double album of the decade in the United States. It received seven Grammy Award nominations, winning Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bullet with Butterfly Wings". Other singles included "1979", "Zero", "Tonight, Tonight" and "Thirty-Three". Material not included on the album was later collected in the box set "The Aeroplane Flies High". In 1996, the band undertook a world tour in support of the album. They also appeared in the "The Simpsons" episode "Homerpalooza". During a concert in Dublin in May 1996, audience member Bernadette O'Brien died after being crushed in the crowd. The performance ended early, and the following concert in Belfast was cancelled. On 11 July 1996, touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died of a heroin overdose in a New York hotel room, while Jimmy Chamberlin was arrested on drug possession charges. Chamberlin was subsequently dismissed from the band, and drummer Matt Walker and keyboardist Dennis Flemion joined the touring line-up. The band completed the tour without Chamberlin. Following "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness", the band increasingly incorporated electronic influences. The singles "Eye" and "The End Is the Beginning Is the End", released in 1997, reflected this shift. "The End Is the Beginning Is the End", recorded for the film "Batman & Robin", won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Released in 1998, "Adore" marked a stylistic departure from the band's earlier guitar-based sound, making greater use of electronic instrumentation and drum machines. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and received positive reviews, although its sales were lower than those of its predecessor. To promote the album, the band undertook a charity tour across North America, donating all ticket revenue to local charitable organisations. On Halloween 1998, the band performed at Dodger Stadium dressed as the Beatles while opening for Kiss. Jimmy Chamberlin rejoined the band for the "Arising" tour in 1999. During work on "Machina/The Machines of God", D'arcy Wretzky left the band and was replaced for touring by Melissa Auf der Maur. Released in 2000, "Machina/The Machines of God" reached number three on the Billboard chart. Billy Corgan announced the band's planned break-up in May 2000, and "Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music" was released independently in a limited vinyl edition with permission for fans to distribute it online. The band's farewell concert took place on 2 December 2000 at the Metro in Chicago. The single "Untitled" was released to coincide with the event. Following the break-up, the compilation "Rotten Apples" and the companion collection "Judas O" were released in 2001, alongside "The Greatest Hits Video Collection". "Vieuphoria" and "Earphoria" were later reissued on DVD and CD respectively. Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin formed the band Zwan, releasing the album "Mary Star of the Sea" in 2003 before disbanding later that year. Corgan also collaborated with New Order and released the poetry collection "Blinking with Fists" in 2004, followed by the solo album "TheFutureEmbrace" in 2005. James Iha worked with several other artists and continued operating Scratchie Records. Since leaving the Smashing Pumpkins, D'arcy Wretzky has largely remained out of the public eye. In June 2005, Corgan announced plans to revive the Smashing Pumpkins. Chamberlin joined the reunion, while Iha and Wretzky declined to participate. The band's first performance since 2000 took place in Paris on 22 May 2007, featuring new members Jeff Schroeder, Ginger Reyes and Lisa Harriton. The album "Zeitgeist" was released later that year, reaching number two on the Billboard chart. The band also released the EP "American Gothic", the singles "Superchrist" and "G.L.O.W.", and the concert documentary "If All Goes Wrong". During this period, Corgan stated that the band intended to focus on singles rather than traditional albums. In 2009, Jimmy Chamberlin left the band and was replaced by Mike Byrne. Billy Corgan launched the "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" project, initially intended as a 44-song concept released online one track at a time. Ginger Reyes departed in 2010 and was replaced by Nicole Fiorentino. Two EPs from the project were released before the original concept was abandoned. "Oceania", described by Corgan as part of the "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" project, was released in 2012. The album reached number four on the Billboard 200 and was followed by international touring and the live release "Oceania: Live in NYC". During this period, the band's earlier catalogue was remastered and reissued in expanded editions. In 2014, the band signed with BMG and released "Monuments to an Elegy". Mike Byrne and Nicole Fiorentino departed before the album's completion. Tommy Lee performed drums on the recording, while Brad Wilk and Mark Stoermer joined the touring line-up. Although a follow-up album titled "Day for Night" was announced, it was not released. Jimmy Chamberlin returned as touring drummer in 2015 for "The End Times Tour" with Marilyn Manson and continued with the subsequent "In Plainsong" tour. James Iha made guest appearances with the band in 2016 before officially rejoining alongside Jimmy Chamberlin in 2018. The reunited line-up launched the "Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour", concentrating on material from the band's first five albums. Bass duties were performed by Jack Bates, with Katie Cole contributing additional instrumentation and backing vocals. The album "Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." was released later that year. The band released "Cyr" in 2020 through Sumerian Records, preceded by several pairs of singles, including "Cyr", "The Colour of Love", "Confessions of a Dopamine Addict", "Wrath", "Anno Satana", "Birch Grove", "Ramona", "Wyttch", "Purple Blood" and "Dulcet in E". In 2022, the band announced "Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts", a sequel to the narrative begun with "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" and continued in "Machina/The Machines of God". The album was released in three instalments between November 2022 and May 2023. During this period, the band organised "The World Is A Vampire" festival and touring events in Mexico, Australia, the United States and Canada. Jeff Schroeder left the band in October 2023. In early 2024, the group held an open application process for a new touring guitarist, receiving more than 10,000 submissions before selecting Kiki Wong. During 2024, the band toured the United Kingdom and Ireland with Weezer and released their thirteenth studio album, "Aghori Mhori Mei". The outtake "Chrome Jets" followed as a standalone single in 2025. In 2025, the band released a remastered edition of "Machina/The Machines of God" and the eight-record box set "Machina: Aranea Alba Editio", which combined material from the "Machina" and "Machina II" sessions alongside demos, outtakes and live recordings. Later that year, "Zodeon at Crystal Hall", consisting of bonus material from the "Atum" sessions and additional tracks, was issued on vinyl. In 2026, the Smashing Pumpkins announced "The Rats in a Cage Tour", a North American arena tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness". Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins Studio albums Gish (1991) Siamese Dream (1993) Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) Adore (1998) Machina/The Machines of God (2000) Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music (2000) Zeitgeist (2007) Oceania (2012) Monuments to an Elegy (2014) Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. (2018) Cyr (2020) Atum (2022–2023) Aghori Mhori Mei (2024) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.