The July 7, 1998 performance was a charity event at the New World Music Theater with fellow Chicago band Cheap Trick serving as the opening act. The band originally wanted to host a free concert in Chicago's Grant Park, but were denied permission by mayor Richard Daley, who feared that the show might draw 100,000 fans. Ironically, four days before this show, Grant Park hosted 1.3 million guests for Independence Day fireworks. The band managed to perform a free concert in Minneapolis just ten days later that drew upwards of 125,000 fans, and that occurred without incident.
A check for $500,000 was presented to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for terminally sick children. This marked the single highest donation to the organization in their then eleven-year history. Billy Corgan later reflected this as one the band's greatest accomplishments. Make-A-Wish children were on stage for the check presentation and sang "Today" to the band.
To honor the band's charitable efforts, Daley later declared July 7 as "Smashing Pumpkins Day" in Chicago. Other days declared "Smashing Pumpkins Day" include June 30 (San Francisco), July 12 (Houston), July 17 (Minneapolis), July 20 (Toronto), July 29 (Washington, DC), July 31 (Boston), August 5 (Nashville), August 6 (Charlotte), and August 8 (Sunrise, FL).
"1979" featured Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen on guitar. With Mike Garson on piano, the "Summertime" intro to "Blank Page" was played in a blues style, instead of the usual traditional arrangement.
SETLIST:
1. To Sheila
2. Behold! the Night Mare
3. Pug
4. Crestfallen
5. Ava Adore
6. Once Upon a Time
7. Tear
8. Daphne Descends
9. Thru the Eyes of Ruby
10. Perfect (acoustic)
11. Tonight, Tonight (acoustic)
12. (percussion solo)
> Zero (tease)
> Where Boys Fear to Tread (tease)
> Bullet with Butterfly Wings
13. Shame
14. For Martha [7:45]
Encore one:
15. (check presentation)
16. Today (tease) (Make-A-Wish kids on vocals)
17. Today (tease)
18. I Want You to Want Me [Cheap Trick]
19. 1979
Encore two:
20. Summertime [George Gershwin] (tease)
> Blank Page
21. Transmission [Joy Division] [19:29]
> Let's Dance [David Bowie] (tease)
https://spcodex.wiki/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins_1998-07-07
The July 7, 1998 performance was a charity event at the New World Music Theater with fellow Chicago band Cheap Trick serving as the opening act. The band originally wanted to host a free concert in Chicago's Grant Park, but were denied permission by mayor Richard Daley, who feared that the show might draw 100,000 fans. Ironically, four days before this show, Grant Park hosted 1.3 million guests for Independence Day fireworks. The band managed to perform a free concert in Minneapolis just ten days later that drew upwards of 125,000 fans, and that occurred without incident.
A check for $500,000 was presented to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for terminally sick children. This marked the single highest donation to the organization in their then eleven-year history. Billy Corgan later reflected this as one the band's greatest accomplishments. Make-A-Wish children were on stage for the check presentation and sang "Today" to the band.
To honor the band's charitable efforts, Daley later declared July 7 as "Smashing Pumpkins Day" in Chicago. Other days declared "Smashing Pumpkins Day" include June 30 (San Francisco), July 12 (Houston), July 17 (Minneapolis), July 20 (Toronto), July 29 (Washington, DC), July 31 (Boston), August 5 (Nashville), August 6 (Charlotte), and August 8 (Sunrise, FL).
"1979" featured Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen on guitar. With Mike Garson on piano, the "Summertime" intro to "Blank Page" was played in a blues style, instead of the usual traditional arrangement.
SETLIST:
1. To Sheila
2. Behold! the Night Mare
3. Pug
4. Crestfallen
5. Ava Adore
6. Once Upon a Time
7. Tear
8. Daphne Descends
9. Thru the Eyes of Ruby
10. Perfect (acoustic)
11. Tonight, Tonight (acoustic)
12. (percussion solo)
> Zero (tease)
> Where Boys Fear to Tread (tease)
> Bullet with Butterfly Wings
13. Shame
14. For Martha [7:45]
Encore one:
15. (check presentation)
16. Today (tease) (Make-A-Wish kids on vocals)
17. Today (tease)
18. I Want You to Want Me [Cheap Trick]
19. 1979
Encore two:
20. Summertime [George Gershwin] (tease)
> Blank Page
21. Transmission [Joy Division] [19:29]
> Let's Dance [David Bowie] (tease)
https://spcodex.wiki/wiki/The_Smashing_Pumpkins_1998-07-07