 The Smashing Pumpkins are an influential American alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Billy Corgan and James Iha met in a record store, and began performing in local nightclubs with their bassist, D'arcy, before they had a drummer.
Less influenced by punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had a densely layered and guitar-heavy sound, grunge, heavy metal, power pop, psychedelic rock, shoegazer-style production and, in later recordings, electronica. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgan's songs ranged from angry (The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings) to dour (The Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm) to jubilant (The Smashing Pumpkins – 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. However, internal fighting, diminishing sales, drug problems, cultural vitality, and what is speculated to be improper treatment from their record company, hampered the band in their later years, leading to a 2000 break-up.
The band's final album, "MACHINA II / The Friends And Enemies of Modern Music" was unofficially released on vinyl in 2000, prior to their break-up, with the record company refusing to back the band with a pressing. Only 25 copies were made, each signed by the band. The album was then released across various fan sites by the group, as a final tribute to the band's supporters.
Problems have been seen since then with Billy Corgan and James Iha (who later joined A Perfect Circle, as Maynard liked his work with the Pumpkins), and D'arcy (the original bassist for the Pumpkins, female), both of whom started their own record companies after the breakup. (Bickering, etc. There was one report that Corgan has asked Iha to rejoin, in an attempt to get the Pumpkins back together, and he outright refused.)
Billy Corgan would continue from there with his independent work, first as Zwan, and then later simply as Billy Corgan. Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer of the Smashing Pumpkins, formed the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, and Corgan recorded with them on a song entitled Loki Cat.
In mid-april 2006 The Smashing Pumpkins reunited. The Smashing Pumpkins members Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin are reported to currently be working on material that will end up as a new Smashing Pumpkins album. Additionally, Eric Avery, formerly of Jane's Addiction, was reported to have joined the reunited Pumpkins as bassist, but this was shown to be false. The band's official website has stated that "The Smashing Pumpkins are currently in the studio in preparation for their first album in 7 years." It has also been released on their official site that they are in the studio recording with "producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars, The Darkness), at work on their first new album since 1999."
Drummer Jimmy Chamberlain has released a series (six so far, with the most recent being posted on 11/30/2006) of "Love Letters" on the bands new myspace, letting fans know of the progress of the studio recording of the new album, which is as of yet untitled. In the most recent of these "Love Letters" Jimmy stated that they are four songs into recording. It is still unknown as who the other band members are.
Many theories are present as to the release date of the new album, many fans seem to think that it could possibly be on Billy's 40th birthday (March 17 2007), this theory was proven false with the release date stated to be the 7th of July
At a fan meet-up in London in December a close friend of the band announced that the Pumpkins would be playing at European festivals, many believing this to mean the Reading festival in 2007.
It was recently announced that they will be headlining The Nova Rock Festival along with Pearl Jam on June 15 2007 in Nickelsdorf, Austria.
On the bands new myspace (see below for link) Jimmy Chamberlin reported (on "SP TV") that once the recording process had finished they were to go into rehearsal for one and a half months before comencing touring.
There is a certain amount of questioning going on over the pumpkins fansites as to the note in the booklet that came with Piscies Iscariot, the year 2007 is mentioned, wether this is a coincidence with regards to the reuinion, or a pre planned event is anyones gues, one things for certain, the year 2007 will be a very interesting one for fans of The Smashing pumpkins
The band's 6th album, called 'Zeitgeist', is announced to be released 07/07/07.
The band's myspace can be found here: http://www.myspace.com/smashingpumpkins
A great fansite with bootlegs and a great community: thepumpkins.netLinks The Smashing Pumpkins, muslib.ru (рус.)Version Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:05:00 +0300
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