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Help us build the world's largest knowledge base for The Smashing Pumpkins and related acts!
We currently have 4,333 articles, detailing 1,323 songs across 150 albums.
Album of the month
Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins was considered "one of the most anticipated albums of 1998". Recording proved to be a challenge as the band struggled with both personal and interpersonal problems and the departure of Jimmy Chamberlin. While the resulting electronic sound divided some fans, it gained an immense cult following and was praised by critics. Adore went Platinum in the US and 2× Platinum in Canada. It was the band's third straight album to be nominated for a Grammy, peaking at #1 in five countries and #2 on the Billboard 200. A remastered and expanded version of the album was released in September 2014.
Song of the day
"A Song for a Son" is a song by The Smashing Pumpkins from the Songs for a Sailor segment of Teargarden. Billy Corgan consciously set the song in 1975, the year he started listening heavily to rock music, attributing the extended guitar solo to Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, UFO, and Rainbow. Producer Kerry Brown wrote:
“ | Billy broke out the Farfisa today and we ran it through a 'secret weapon' It won't be such a secret on Tuesday when I showcase it and its history in the Tech Tuesday blog ... but for those of you curious as to what it could be... *Hint*(Pink Floyd) used one of these devices on some of their recordings. | ” |
The "secret weapon" was a Binson Echorec.
Did you know...
- ...that a music video was recorded for "I Am One" in 1992, but because the band was unhappy with the results, it wasn't released until 2001 on the Greatest Hits Video Collection?
- ...the drowning Statue of Liberty on the Zeitgeist cover was meant to portray global warming and the eminent demise of many founding United States ideals? There are six editions of the album in different colors and with varying bonus tracks.
- ...that the "Siva" song title long predates the song, and Billy Corgan considered naming the band Siva instead of The Smashing Pumpkins?
- ...that Matt Sweeney's (of Zwan) former band Skunk helped inspire the composition that became "Frail and Bedazzled"?
- ...that until the release of The Offspring album Smash in 1994, Gish was the best-selling independently released album of all time?
- ...that Zeitgeist was the first Smashing Pumpkins album Jimmy Chamberlin helped produce? Regarding the aggressive drumming, he said "the world is ready for something with some balls behind it."
- ...that "The Crying Tree of Mercury" had an online interactive music video directed by Billy Corgan that was released by MTV?
- ...that The Smashing Pumpkins contributed to a various artists compilation album that parodied the hideous 70's and 80's K-tel compilations? Each participating band was to cover an obscure 70s song. The Pumpkins went with "Jackie Blue" by Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
- ...that the Siamese Dream booklet was supposed to be by an outsider artist, but after disagreements with the label, Corgan was forced to step in at the last minute? On the day after their wedding, he and his wife scrambled to put something together, using photos of strangers and Corgan's family with lyrics handwritten on top.
- ...that months prior to Zeitgeist's release, two thieves broke into the band's rehearsal space, stole photographs of the album booklet artwork and leaked them online? They were arrested by Chicago Police and charged with felony burglary.
In the news
May 6, 2024
- Madame ZuZu's announces the next archival release, a 2 LP set consisting of SP on the Radio 1988-89 / Starchildren Live 8.18.90. Release date is May 11 at 12 PM CST exclusively through madamezuzus.com.
April 27, 2024
April 26, 2024
- Kiki Wong is confirmed as the new guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins.
April 24, 2024
- The NWA announces that Billy Corgan's new 8-episode unscripted series, Billy Corgan's Adventures in Carnyland will debut on The CW on May 14.