All news from February 16, 1999 to June 20, 2000. For latest news, click here.

June 20, 2000

PUMPKINS OFFER UK A SLICE OF THE LAST PIE

SMASHING PUMPKINS have announced their last ever UK tour dates, having announced earlier this year are to split once all promotional duties for their current album ‘MACHINA/THE MACHINES OF GOD’ have been completed.

The band will play:
Glasgow SECC (October 30)
Manchester Apollo (31)
Birmingham NEC (November 1)
Wembley Arena (3)
Tickets, priced at £20, will go on sale from 9am this Thursday (June 22).

Formed in 1989 in Chicago, the Pumpkins releasesd five albums including this year’s ‘MACHINA/The Machines Of God’, before announcing plans to split.

On announcing the split to Californian radio station KROQ earlier this year, Billy Corgan said: "We felt that before the start of this album that we had sort of come to the end of our road - emotionally, spiritually, musically."

For tickets to see the Pumpkins, call NME’s 24-hour Virgin Cola Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. All calls are charged at the national standard rate.



June 11, 2000

I apologise for not recognising Jimmy Chamberlin's birthday yesterday. It seemed to have slipped my mind. So, Jimmy, I wish you a very happy belated birthday. My mistake.



June 10, 2000

You can now perchase Machina on vinyl at CDNow. It comes with a 20 page book of artwork and is priced at $18.99 or so.



May 25, 2000

Taken from Sonicnet.com:

Smashing Pumpkins Breaking Up, Billy Corgan Says

Singer/guitarist says band hopes to stage farewell U.S. tour before packing it in at end of year.

Senior Writer Chris Nelson reports:

The Smashing Pumpkins said on Tuesday (May 23) they will break up at the end of the year, closing the door on an 11-year, seemingly cursed career that often found the band running counter to industry trends as they carried a torch for conceptual, artful rock.

"There's nothing wrong inside the band," founder and singer/guitarist Billy Corgan said on Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM. "But the way the culture is and stuff, it's hard to keep trying to fight the good fight against the Britneys," he said, referring to Britney Spears and other teen pop sensations.

The band is on the West Coast leg of a U.S. tour that ends May 30. They play the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., on Tuesday. They are scheduled to spend the second half of June on a tour of Japan.

Corgan said the band hopes to stage a farewell U.S. trek before year's end. He added that the group knew before they released MACHINA/the machines of God on Feb. 29 that it would be their last album before breaking up, but did not announce it for fear the news would overshadow the music.

"I feel like a weight's been lifted off our shoulders," Corgan told KROQ. He called the band's decision to forge a career pursuing challenging music "exhilarating" but "wearying." "It will be nice to let the music be now," he told the station.

In addition, there will be more music from the Pumpkins, Corgan said. The band has several songs left over from the recording of MACHINA/the machines of God that they plan to finish this summer and release with additional material. But he said he didn't know whether they would come out before year's end or "two years from now."

The band also will tape a session of "VH1 Storytellers" in August, he said.


Taken from Yahoo Music:

Crack Charges Dropped After Ex-Pumpkins Bassist Completes Drug Classes

Charges against former Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'Arcy Wretzky for possession of crack cocaine were dropped Friday (May 19) following her completion of a court-ordered drug prevention class.

Wretzky, 32, did not appear in Cook County District Court for the hearing, Jodee Fallon, a spokesperson for the Cook County, Ill., State's Attorney's office, said.

In February, Judge Nicholas Ford gave the bassist just more than three months to attend four drug-abuse prevention classes as part of a program offered to first-time offenders in lieu of a trial.

Wretzky maintained her innocence after that hearing. "I didn't do it," she said at the time. "I gave somebody a ride. That was it."

Her lawyer, Richard Brzeczek, said on Friday that he had not spoken to Wretzky since the February hearing and was not required to be in court because the classes were completed. He said he did not know when she finished the course, or where it took place.

Wretzky, who quit the Smashing Pumpkins in September, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Jan. 25. She was accused of buying a third of a gram of crack cocaine from a housing complex on West Lake Street.

An officer dressed in street clothes watched Wretzky enter a car carrying two other people, police have said. The car then drove away with the headlights off and allegedly made several traffic violations, including two illegal U-turns.

Police said they found the drugs in three plastic bags in the pocket of the driver, identified as Tony Young, but that Wretzky claimed that the bags were hers.

Wretzky, a founding member of the superstar rock band, reportedly quit to begin a film career. She was replaced by former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur.



May 13, 2000

The official site was updated a bit with much more thoughts and photos from shows. Check it out.


My friend Sarah is getting a site together called The Smashing Fans. Please help her out by sending artwork, essays, stories, poetry, letter, dreams, etc. to thespfans@hotmail.com. It will be big! As soon as I have a URL to give you, you can see your stuff online.



May 12, 2000

The SPIFC will be shut down from May 13th, 2000 to June 11th, 2000 inclusive. During this time, the SPIFC will be reorganizing it's internal structure and website to better reflect the needs of it's members. The reorganization comes about due to the overwhelming results of a survey we sent out to 10% of SPIFC members. We will go into further detail on the results of the survey in our first mailing after our reorganization is complete.

Because of this, the SPIFC will cease mailings to it's members during the reorginization period.

If you have placed an order for SPIFC merchandise and we have not received it by May 12th, we may not be able to process it until June 12th.

If you are a successful bidder on a SPIFC auction item and your check or money order is not received by us by May 12th, your item will not be mailed until June 12th.

The SPIFC thanks everyone for their patience during our reorginization.



May 4, 2000

Smashing Pumpkins Site Up and Running

The Smashing Pumpkins finally have their site back. Go here or the regular url to find it. it has pics, videos, and messages from the band. Check it out.



May 3, 2000

D'arcy Update

We're sure you've been wondering what D'Arcy Wretzky has been up to since her court date for possession of crack cocaine last Valentine's Day. She has been religiously attending her four drug abuse prevention classes as ordered by Cook County District Court Judge Nicholas Ford, but that doesn't mean that she's not having a little fun. The former Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'Arcy Wretzky is currently keeping company with Hollywood's plastic surgery pin-up boy, Mickey Rourke. The newish duo have been spotted around Los Angeles holding hands and window shopping on Melrose Ave. D'Arcy's pals say that the former 9½ Weeks' star has got the actress-cum-musician (who turns 32 on May 1) hooked on plastic surgery too. She's had her beautiful heart-shaped face altered in ways that were totally unnecessary…


Billy Corgan leads the Smashing Pumpkins to new heights

HEAVIER than a load of Allen Bloom books but more powerful than a Con Ed system surge, the Smashing Pumpkins were simply smashing at their Hammerstein Ballroom concert Tuesday night. It was a defining performance in which Pumpkin head Billy Corgan and his band made it clear that they no longer think of themselves as indie-rock antiheroes: They're now genuine rock stars.

No disrespect intended - stardom suits Corgan and company. Tuesday's concert was very accessible and aimed at pleasing the fans. The two-hour program had a great light show, basic staging and was packed with a career-spanning selection of songs.

Those tunes included nearly three-quarters of the excellent "Machina" album, some past hits and even a well-picked oldie cover of David Essex's "Rock On."

Between the band's poor last outing ("Adore") and the new "Machina" disc, the Smashing Pumpkins have realized that the last vestiges of real rock 'n' roll are on heavy metal's stairway to hell.

The band didn't hesitate to incorporate the best of the genre with their sound. The result at the Hammerstein concert was volume, velocity and chest-pounding power - all laced into every song.

Yet what made this better then a typical headbanger's ball was that each piece sounded different, despite continuity within the music.

Read the rest here



May 2, 2000

Happy Birthday, D'arcy! I know I'm late. It was yesterday.



March 26, 2000

Today, we celebrate James Iha's birthday. I'd like to say happy birthday to my dear and wonderful James! Happy 32nd!



March 22, 2000

With the Smashing Pumpkins new single, "Stand Inside Your Love," shooting up the Alternative and Modern Rock radio charts, the band has just released an expanded itinerary for its upcoming "Sacred And Profane" tour of the U.S. The initial set of dates were issued by the band's representatives last week (see "Tour Dates"), just as the Smashing Pumpkins had completed its "Resume The Pose" tour of in-store appearances and performances.

After debuting on the "Billboard" album chart at number three, the Smashing Pumpkins new record, "Machina/The Machines Of God," will slip to 20 on next week's chart, according to SoundScan. However, the Smashing Pumpkins have already sold more than 234,000 copies of "Machina" in just its first two weeks in stores.



March 17, 2000

Project 33

A gift for Billy is being organized by some of your fellow Smashing Pumpkins fans. Since today is his 33rd birthday, a campaign is being organized to vote for the "Thirty-three" video to be played on MTV's Total Request Live.

You can find more information on Project 33 by clicking here.

You can jump the information on when and how to vote for "Thirty-three" by clicking here. Also check out Netphoria's own Messageboard where you can find a lot of posts on Project 33.


Happy Birthday, Billy!

Today is Billy Corgan's birthday. He turns "Thirty-three" today. :-)



March 13, 2000

Pumpkins Enter Billboard Charts

The Smashing Pumpkins have entered the Billboard top 200 at #3! Check it out here.



March 8, 2000

The February SPIFC Charity Auction has ended. SPIFC members raised a total of $555 US for Save The Children through the auction. The SPIFC will be donating an additional $200 US to the fundraiser, bringing our two month total to $1290 US. Thanks to everyone who participated! The successful bidders have already been notified. Winning bids can be found at http://www.spifc.org/en/auction_feb.txt

Our March auction has already begun! Please come and see this month's auction items at http://www.spifc.org/en/spifc_fundraiser.html



March 7, 2000

The following is courtesy of MTV USA:

On Thursday, March 9th (at 4:30 p.m. ET), Grammy-award winning artists, the Smashing Pumpkins, will perform a song from their album "MACHINA/the machines of God." During the live show, MTV will premiere MTV.com's first ever interactive music video -- "The Crying Tree of Mercury" directed by Billy Corgan. The video will be available to online users ( on http://www.mtv.com ) throughout the week.



February 24, 2000

Smashing Pumpkins Sue Sharon Osbourne

The Smashing Pumpkins filed a $150,000 lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday (Feb. 22), accusing ex-manager Sharon Osbourne of refusing to return an advance made to her by the band for that amount after she abruptly quit in January (allstar, Jan. 12).

The lawsuit reads, in part, "Osbourne was selected last fall by the Smashing Pumpkins to hold a position of deep trust and confidence which she blithely disavowed (less than four months later), abandoning her charges at a critically vulnerable time and place. The time was within a month prior to the release of the group's new album (the result of ten months of intensive creative energy by the group) and within the first few days of a three-week European promotional tour. For an experienced manager, this timing portrays a vindictive attempt to damage the group both emotionally and professionally."

The lawsuit also alleges Osbourne induced Nick Cua, tour accountant and acting tour manager, to quit as well, leaving the band high and dry in the midst of their European tour (the suit alleges Cua left a hotel in the middle of the night without notice). "While still obliged to travel and perform at European venues, the group scrambled to replace immediately the critical tour manager and tour accountant positions," the suit reads.

Osbourne was given an advance of $150,000 in October 1999 when she took on managerial duties for the band. The suit claims Osbourne refuses to return said monies, which the band claims are recoupable based on Osbourne's sudden resignation and subsequent events. "Rather than admit that she has simply taken money which is not hers, Osbourne has conjured absurd expenses as a claimed 'offset' against misappropriated funds," the suit continues. "Only a court can return Osbourne to her senses and force her to understand that one can't simply take other people's money."

The Pumpkins are suing for at least $150,000 plus damages for breach of contract, breach of implied in fact contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and accounting.

Osbourne's office had "no comment" at this time.
-- Kevin Raub



February 22, 2000

Jimmy Chamberlin will not be able to perform at show Saturday, so group will play acoustic set.

Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin injured his eye and will not be able to perform with the band at a show Saturday (Feb. 19) in Carlboro, N.C., according to the band's publicists. The other members of the band will instead play an acoustic set. Chamberlin rejoined the group last year after being fired in 1996 for his involvement in the heroin-overdose death of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin. The Smashing Pumpkins' fifth studio album, MACHINA/the machines of God, comes out Feb. 29.


Smashing Pumpkins May Jump Ship

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) The proposed music merger between Time Warner and EMI will place many of the world's biggest recording acts under one roof, but the Smashing Pumpkins may not be among them. The Chicago-based band, one of the most popular modern rock groups, with worldwide sales of 23 million albums, has just fulfilled its contract with EMI's Virgin Records America label and is enjoying its freedom, lead Pumpkin Billy Corgan says. "I'm out of my deal so I'm no longer an indentured servant," he tells Reuters in a recent interview. "We're free agents now, we're done with our commitment to Virgin." ...



February 16, 2000

Ex-Smashing Pumpkin D'Arcy Sent To Drug School

Former Smashing Pumpkin D'Arcy Wretzky was ordered to attend a drug education program by a Cook Country Criminal Court judge on Monday (Feb. 14), according to Patti Simone, spokesperson for the Illinois State Attorney's Office.

Wretzky will have two months to complete the program, which includes four Saturdays' worth of drug education training and is the standard punishment for first-time, non violent drug offenders. The bassist's successful completion of the program will erase the charges of possesion of a controlled substance against her.

Wretzy was arrested in Chicago on Jan. 25, where she was found in possession of 1/10 of a gram of rock cocaine (a.k.a. crack).



February 14, 2000

Happy V-Day everyone and i've finally hit 1000!!! check it:




February 10, 2000

Virgin Records has informed us that there has been a last minute change to the track listing that we recently gave out for the 5 track EP. The new track listing is as follows:

- Hope (previously unreleased)
- Blissed and Gone (previously unreleased)
- Apathy's Last Kiss
- Mayonaise (demo version)
- Eye


Our sincere apologies to fans who were hoping for "Not Worth Asking" or "Glynis" to appear on the EP.



February 9, 2000

From the Chicago Tribune:

We've learned that former Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'Arcy Wretzky is scheduled to appear in court later this month after her arrest for possession of rock cocaine on the West Side. Wretzky quit the band in September. The Pumpkins have had their share of drug problems. Drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, who was with keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin when Melvoin overdosed on heroin in 1996, recently rejoined the band after a stint in drug rehab.


The Smashing Pumpkins have created two EP (extended play) CDs which are being given away free!

A seven track EP is being given out free with pre-orders for "Machina/the machines of God" at select in-store performances across North America. The track listing is as follows:

- The Everlasting Gaze (from "Machina/the machines of God")
- I Am One
- Disarm
- Starla
- Bullet With Butterfly Wings
- Medellia Of The Gray Skies
- Waiting (previously unreleased)

A five track EP will be given out as a bonus when you purchase "Machina/the machines of God" at Best Buy in the US, and at HMV in Canada and other select countries. This CD has the following track listing:

- Hope (previously unreleased)
- Not Worth Asking
- Apathy's Last Kiss
- Blissed and Gone (previously unreleased)
- Glynis

Please contact your local Best Buy or HMV location for details in your area.


Further to our message about the "Stand Inside Your Love" single to be released in the UK:

The single will be released in other select countries around the world on February 21st as well. Unfortunately, we don't have listing of countries, but we've heard word that Germany and Australia will be amongst them. However, as we already stated, a North American release is not planned.


The video for "The Everlasting Gaze", the first radio single released off of "Machina/the machines of God", has been placed into rotation on music video stations across North America.



February 8, 2000

The Smashing Pumpkins will be releasing "Stand Inside Your Love" as their first CD single from Machina/the machines of God. The CD will be released through Hut Recordings in the UK on February 21st, 2000. No US release is planned.

The single will be available on CD and cassette. Both formats contain the previously unreleased track "Speed Kills".



February 3, 2000

The January SPIFC Charity Auction has ended. SPIFC members raised a total of $435 US for Save The Children through the auction. The SPIFC will be donating an additional $100 US to the fundraiser, bringing our total to $535 US for the first month. Thanks to everyone who participated! The successful bidders have already been notified. Winning bids can be found at http://www.spifc.org/en/auction_jan.txt

Our February auction has already begun! Please come and see this month's auction items at http://www.spifc.org/en/spifc_fundraiser.html



January 29, 2000

This is just a reminder to get your bids in on the items for the SPIFC Charity Auction for Save The Children before noon CT on January 31th, 2000.

Current bids can be found at http://www.spifc.org/en/auction.txt

Information on the charity auction can be found at:
http://www.spifc.org/en/spifc_fundraiser.html



January 25, 2000

The following is a letter written by Billy for the fans in Brussels:

To our dear fans in Brussels we just wanted to write a note to say how sorry we were that we could not finish our show the other night. We were so upset and of course we know you were too, we now wish that we would have at least stayed for an hour to shake everyone's hands and say hello. We've never had to walk off stage like that, so I think the whole thing overwhelmed us. In twelve years we've only cancelled four shows, so its nothing we are used to. We appreciate the effort that everyone went through to come & standing in line and in some cases flying in from other countries. So let me apologise from the bottom of our hearts. We are so sorry and when we come back later this year we will play twice as long.

Love
Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)



January 22, 2000

New from the SPIFC:

Just to clear up various rumors that have been floating around the Internet recently:

- Sharon Osbourne Management is no longer representing the Smashing Pumpkins.

- The band is *not* in the process of breaking up. They are currently in the process of a world tour, and will be releasing their new album on February 29th, 2000 in North America, February 28th, 2000 elsewhere. Until the band officially calls it a day, any statement about the Pumpkins breaking up is simply a rumor.

- Billy has come down with a throat infection. This has forced the cancellation of the Brussels, BE and Manchester, UK shows. He is currently resting, and is looking forward to performing at the upcoming London, UK show.

The SPIFC thanks everyone for their letters of concern. If there are any updates, we will attempt to get them out as soon as possible.



January 20, 2000

EXCLUSIVE: SMASHING PUMPKINS TO SPLIT?

dotmusic can exclusively reveal that Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan intends to split the band following the promotion of their forthcoming album.

'MACHINA/The Machines Of God' is set to be the last studio album by the multi-platinum act when it is released in late February.

Speaking to dotmusic, fellow Chicago rockers, and close friends of the Pumpkins, Filter revealed that it is only a matter time before Billy calls it a day.

"Billy expressed to me that this is it - this is the last time he will go out as the Pumpkins - and he wants to conquer the world, do it one last time and go out with a big boom" says Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo.

Filter singer and one time Nine Inch Nails guitarist Richard Patrick also explained to us the reasons behind D'arcy quitting the group:

"She really, really wanted a break from the whole music industry. She's tired of how competitive it is. She's just like 'hey, I want to be an actress'. She is a very competitive person but she's just tired of the music industry. She's really over it. She just wants to do something new and she should. She should be happy."

Sharon Osbourne sensationally resigned as manager of the Smashing Pumpkins last week 'due to medical reasons'. It seems someone in the band was making her feel sick.

"Billy is a very heavy handed… he knows what he wants. Most genius' or successful men know what they want. It's his way or the highway. You either get it or you don't. He goes through personal assistants like they are underwear. I could see him being pretty authoritative" adds Patrick.

"We know her and we know Ozzy. She is a sweetheart. She embodies what I think makes a great manager. She would take a bullet for the bands she wants to work with".

As a friend of both Corgan and Osbourne, Patrick assures us it isn't a major issue between the two parties, "I'm sure it's not a personal issue but I think it's probably that they couldn't click".

Return to dotmusic later this week for the full story in our exclusive Filter video interview.



January 15, 2000

Smashing Pumpkins To Shoot "Everlasting" Video, Flip-Flop Single Plans

To that end, the group plans to travel to London next week to shoot a video for "The Everlasting Gaze" with acclaimed Swedish director Jonas Akerlund. According to a source close to the band, the "Gaze" clip will be a stripped-down, performance-based look at the group's refurbished lineup.

Prior to Akerlund, there was talk that the Smashing Pumpkins might work with the husband-wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who also directed the band's videos for "Perfect," "1979," and "Tonight, Tonight." The Pumpkins eventually opted for Akerlund, with whom they had not previously worked.

"The Everlasting Gaze" video is expected to be completed by early February, and the band has now decided to use the track as the first single from its new album, "Machina/The Machines Of God," rather than "Stand Inside Your Love," the song originally intended as the lead single.

The Smashing Pumpkins have already shot part of a chess-themed video to "Stand Inside Your Love" with the director known as Wiz, who also handled Marilyn Manson's "Man That You Fear" video, among others. The band will now wait to finish production on that clip for at least the next few weeks and is still eyeing "Stand Inside Your Love" to be the second single from "Machina."

Earlier this week, former Pumpkins manager Sharon Osbourne severed her ties with the band, citing an inability to work with frontman Billy Corgan.

The group and its reps are still holding to their "no comment" stance on the issue, which they will likely address in greater depth once the band completes the new video and its European promotional tour.

This weekend, the Smashing Pumpkins will play the Coliseum in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Palacio De Congressio in Madrid, Spain.

- David Basham


The Pumpkins to be on Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher

The Smashing Pumpkins are to be on Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher for a special Super Bowl edition. The postgame talk show, which will also feature a live performance from the band, is scheduled to air January 30 at 11:35pm on ABC.



January 9, 2000

New Smashing Pumpkins T-shirts

Here are some pictures of new Smashing Pumpkins T-shirts being sold at the shows over in Europe, thanks goes out to Grizzly who scanned them and posted on the message board.
Picture #1 - Picture #2 - Picture #3 - Picture #4 - Picture #5



December 30, 1999

TRACK LISTING

1. the everlasting gaze
2. rain drops + sun showers
3. stand inside your love
4. i of the mourning
5. the sacred and profane
6. try, try, try
7. heavey metal machine
8. this time
9. the imploding voice
10. glass and the ghost children
11. wound
12. the mercury tree
13. with every light
14. blue skies bring tears
15. age of innocence

* listing is subject to change



December 27, 1999

Everlasting Gaze #9 on Billboard.com's Modern Rock Tracks

The Everlasting shot forward from #40 to #9 on Billboard.com's Modern Rock Tracks for the issue date of January 1, 2000. Highlighted as "Airpower", check out the full list here.



December 25, 1999

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Staff Writer Chris Nelson reports:

CHICAGO The Smashing Pumpkins debuted their newest member, ex-Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, Monday at a club show that also found them reacquainting themselves with a massive, aggressive rock sound.

"We enjoy rocking for you," guitarist James Iha deadpanned early in the gig, the first of a two-night stand at the Metro club. Though his mannered enunciation was joking, the band made good on the sentiment throughout the 20-song, hour-and-50-minute show . . .

Click here to read the rest of this story at SonicNet News.



December 20, 1999

I'm terribly sorry I haven't updated this in so long. Here's some more news, though:

Bestreetwise.com - EXCLUSIVE

Bestreetwise.com has exclusive Video and Pictures from the filming of the Stand Inside Your Love music video as well as a photo shoot they did. They all look gothic, kind of like the Ava Adore video; Melissa Auf Der Maur is in video and photo shoot. Look forward for more promotions and contest from this site.



December 9, 1999

The SPIFC has learned that the Smashing Pumpkins will be performing an all-ages show at the Metro in Chicago on December 20th and 21st, 1999. The doors will open at 7:30 pm CT, and the show itself will start at 8:30 pm CT. Tickets will be available for $20 USD at the Metro and through Ticketmaster on Friday, December 10th, 1999 at 6:00 pm CT. There will be no opening band for this show.

In addition to the show, in the spirit of the season, a food drive has been organized. The Pumpkins will be giving an special AUTOGRAPHED gift to all fans who bring two canned food items (canned fish, beans and other such high protein items) with them to the show.



December 4, 1999

Former Pumpkin D'Arcy Goes Hollywood

Ex-SMASHING PUMPKINS bassist D'Arcy Wretky is set to star in a new film alongside Mickey Rourke.

According to American magazine reports, D'Arcy will play "a comedic mafia hit women" in 'Peaces Of Ronnie', a film that has previously been reported to feature appearances by Debbie Harry, actor Vincent Gallo and Kylie Minogue.

The first reports on the film stated that it starred Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez, but a spokesman recently denied this.



November 26, 1999

The new Smashing Pumpkins concept album, MACHINA/the machines of God, will be released worldwide on February 29th, 2000.

The album was produced by Flood and Billy Corgan, the team behind the worldwide double CD Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and new bass player Melissa Auf Der Maur, will spend the next 18 months touring extensively throughout the world beginning with theatre venues in Europe on January 7th, 2000.

November 25, 1999

MELISSA AUF DER MAUR, FORMERLY WITH HOLE, ON OUTING TO KICK OFF IN JANUARY

The Smashing Pumpkins have unveiled the title of their upcoming album, MACHINA/the machines of God, and reportedly they have divulged that former Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur will tour Europe with them.

The disc, due Feb. 29, was recorded by the Chicago rockers in the fall, prior to the departure of bassist D'Arcy Wretzky, according to a spokesperson for the group, who requested anonymity.

The venue for the European tour's Jan. 7 opener has not yet been determined [It's been confirmed by the SP IFC (see below); maybe this story hasn't been properly checked out? --Netphoria], according to the source. MTV News reported on Wednesday that Auf Der Maur would participate, but the band's official spokesperson, Annie Ohayon, would not confirm that at press time.

The new Pumpkins album, the band's fifth studio release and the follow-up to 1998's electronica-tinged Adore, was previewed for Virgin Records staffers and select radio programmers Friday at the Whisky Bar in New York, according to the source. No official track listing was available.

The co-host of the "Asleep at the Wheel" morning show on Boston's WFNX (101.7 FM), Angie C., attended the listening party and described the 14 tracks she heard as hard-rocking and slightly psychedelic.

She also applauded the return of the band's drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin, who did not appear on Adore.

"Right away you can tell with the drums, those familiar drum fills, that Jimmy is back, and it's a record that totally grabs you, which was what I was waiting for," said Angie C., who would only give her radio name. She also noted that the album was less like recent Pumpkins efforts and more like the group's 1991 psychedelic rock debut, Gish, and its breakthrough 1993 album, Siamese Dream. The latter featured such radio favorites as "Cherub Rock" and "Today".

The DJ said the songs played on Friday included "Everlasting Gate," "Sunshowers," "Stand Inside Your Love," "I of the Mourning," "The Sacred + Profane," "Try," "Heavy Metal Machine," "This Time," "The Imploding Voice," "Glass + the Ghost Children," "Wound," "Crying Tree," "Blue Skies Bring Tears" and "With Every Light."

"There's more psychedelic stuff," Angie C. said. "It has a lot of those elements that have been missing lately, but it's not too polished, which is what reminded me of Gish. It felt much simpler, thematically, than Mellon Collie [and the Infinite Sadness]," the group's 1995 double album.

While D'Arcy, who left the band in September, plays on an undetermined number of tracks on the album, the effort will represent a full reunion with prodigal drummer Chamberlin. The drummer was ousted from the group following the fatal overdose of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in July 1996.

Chamberlin was arrested and charged with heroin possession in connection with Melvoin's death, and, after pleading guilty, he was ordered to attend a drug-rehabilitation facility. During his absence, the band toured and recorded with a variety of session drummers.

Bandleader Billy Corgan said in August that Chamberlin's return had boosted the band's sound on an April club tour, taking it back to its previous heft.

Referring to the rampaging, over-the-top rock the band played with Chamberlin, Corgan said, "When Jimmy left, we weren't that anymore, so we didn't try to be. Then Jimmy comes back, and we literally went right back to where we left off because it has got something to do with the four people."

At an April 12 show in Cincinnati, the group played a dozen new songs, some of which, according to Angie C., made the cut for the new album. Among the new songs in the show were the reverb-drenched, new-wave style "Stand Inside Your Love" and "Wound," a hard-rock tune highlighting Chamberlin's throbbing drums that approached near speed-metal velocity.

The grungey-rock tune "Blue Skies Bring Tears," the robotic space ballad "Glass + the Ghost Children" and the lilting acoustic ballad "With Every Light," also were featured in the show and played at the listening party.

Corgan was cryptic about the sound of the new album prior to its completion, but he promised it would not rehash past glories.

"I'll make one declaration about the whole thing," Corgan said in August. "And that is that we have no interest in going backward. ... We really feel we're on to something new and something that's very different. Will you be able to hear influences in it? Absolutely. But it does sound like Smashing Pumpkins 1999, not Smashing Pumpkins 1992. If it did sound like Smashing Pumpkins 1992, it wouldn't come out."



November 23, 1999

For confermed tour dates, go here!

My birthday is tomorrow! I'll be 14. Happy birthday to me...

November 19, 1999

The SPIFC, along with a small group of extremely excited fans, were recently able to listen to some of the completed tracks to the highly anticipated upcoming Pumpkins release. While we can't tell you which tracks will appear on the album as we simply weren't given that information, we can tell you that some of the songs from the recent "Arising" tour have been greatly altered, and that many more as-of-yet untitled songs have since been written for the album.

What did the lucky fans who heard the tracks have to say?

"This rawks!"
"Jimmy is definitely back in a big way."
"This is not what I expected at all. Wow!"
"This doesn't sound like 'Adore', 'MCIS', 'Siamese Dream', or 'Gish'."
"I saw (The Smashing Pumpkins) on the 'Arising' tour, and I don't think I have heard half of these songs before."
"I can hardly wait for the album now!"

The Pumpkins continue to put their finishing touches on the album.

The as-of-yet untitled album (sorry, but the other titles you have heard are just rumors at this point!) is due for release on February 15th, 2000.



November 5, 1999

USA Today - Album Title: Desolation

Here is an excerpt from a USA Today article in which it announces the the title of the new album:

Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan and guitarist James Iha began with an atonal cover of U2's Stay before switching gears to a breezy, Eagles-like version of Tom Waits' Old '55. Never acknowledging the audience, the duo tried out two songs from the forthcoming album Desolation.


Melissa Auf Der Maur has joined the Pumpkins

Excerpt taken from NME.com:

MELISSA AUF DER MAUR has definitely joined The Smashing Pumpkins according to Kerrang! magazine, though their story doesn't give any details other than it was confirmed by "sources close to the band". MTV has also been reporting on this as well as many radio stations confirming the same news.



November 4, 1999

Article from Spin:

The Great Ex-Pumpkin

Smashing Pumpkins fans may never know the real reason bassist D'Arcy left the band just months before the release of their forthcoming album, but rumor has it she was actually fired by Billy Corgan. Apparently, the L.A.-based D'Arcy is also an aspiring actress and felt she was ready for her close-up. A source claims she kept missing band practice because she was too busy auditioning and Corgan, still reeling from the sales of the last Pumpkins album, Adore, finally got fed up with the wannabe ingenue. The band's label, Virgin Records, declined to comment.



I will be gone for two or so weeks starting Monday, so no new updates after that...sorry!



October 29, 1999

Billy Corgan and James Iha will be at the Bridge School Benefit which will be broadcasted over the net by Intel, Click here to read more about it...

Talking With the Smashing Pumpkins [BOX SET]

There's a new Smashing Pumpkins interview cd/box set that will be released on January 1, 2001. You can check it out here at Amazon.com.



October 13, 1999

Taken From MTV

If she can handle Ozzy, Billy should be no problem.

Osbourne Management, the company headed by Sharon Osbourne (the wife of Ozzy), added a high-profile client to its roster this week when Smashing Pumpkins signed on to the agency. Billy Corgan and the rest of the Pumpkins now join an Osbourne lineup that includes Ozzy, Black Sabbath, and Coal Chamber.

The move brings an end to the Pumpkins' year-long search for new management after the band left the stable of Q-Prime.

According to a spokesperson at Osbourne Management, the Pumpkins are expected to release an as-yet-untitled album on February 15 with a world tour to follow.

-- Tina Johnson



September 29, 1999

Do you own a copy of Siamese Dream with one of those 4 panel foldouts?

Ever wonder what those little pictures look like, and what those tiny song lyrics really say?

Now you can find out!

Siamese Dream is being re-released. The CD will contain the full 20 page booklet, just like the initial US pressing and international versions.

The re-released CD will be available beginning November 15th, 1999.



SPIFC: Billy and James to play at Bridge School Benefit

The SPIFC has sent out the following e-mail:

Billy Corgan and James Iha have confirmed their attendance at this year's Bridge School Benefit at the Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, California. In addition to Billy and James, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Green Day and *many* other top performers are scheduled to appear.

This year's benefit will take place on October 30th and 31st, 1999. A schedule of performance dates and times will be available in the near future.

Tickets will be available from BASS outlets on Sunday, September 12, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. PT (8:00 a.m. CT) with a limit of 6 tickets per person. Prices are $45 US for seats, $35 US for the lawn (plus applicable BASS charges.)

For more information on the Bridge School Benefit, please see: http://www.hyperrust.org/Bridge/Benefit.html

For more information on getting tickets, please see the BASS website at: http://www.basstickets.com


September 11, 1999

Former Smashing Pumpkins bassist D'Arcy may have left the band to pursue acting, fans and friends speculate, but few expect her departure to affect the group's signature sound.



If you go to The Official Site you will see the following message:

If you have ordered merchandise from The Smashing Pumpkins and have any questions regarding your order please contact merch@smashingpumpkins.com.



The SPIFC has learned that the Stigmata AOL chat with Billy Corgan, scheduled for Monday, September 13th, 1999 has been cancelled. No word was given on the reason for the cancellation.



Smashing Pumpkins Vow To Continue After Bassist Quits

Departure of D'Arcy, one of rock band's two founding members, announced in terse statement.

Senior Writer Gil Kaufman reports:

Just six months after prodigal drummer Jimmy Chamberlin returned to the group, the Smashing Pumpkins announced Thursday (Sept. 9) that bassist D'Arcy has quit.

In a terse statement headlined "D'Arcy's Gone!" the band said, "D'Arcy has left the Smashing Pumpkins. The band's new album is finished, and will be released on February 15, 2000, by Virgin Records. The Smashing Pumpkins will continue as a band and will tour in support of the new record."

A spokesperson for the group could not be reached for further comment at press time.

No reason was offered for the departure of the 31-year-old bassist, born D'Arcy Wretzky. She was of the founding members of the Chicago band, which is fronted by singer/guitarist Billy Corgan and also includes guitarist James Iha. No replacement was named.

When the Smashing Pumpkins formed in Chicago in 1989, the band consisted solely of Corgan and D'Arcy, who played along with a drum machine. But the bassist — born in South Haven, Mich. — has always taken a back seat in creative terms to Corgan, who wrote most of the band's songs.

D'Arcy has played on all of the Pumpkins' recordings. Their most recent album was Adore (1998), a low-key, electronic-influenced work that featured the song "Ava Adore".

Last month, Corgan blanched at a question echoing long-standing suggestions that he was not only the creative force behind the multiplatinum group, but also the sole musical force behind its recordings.

"That stereotype really diminishes the role that the other three members of the band have played in forging the sound that is this emotional, melodramatic rock band," Corgan said, speaking in connection with the release of his score for the upcoming film "Stigmata."

"If I played with three other people, that wouldn't have been the sound," he continued. "There's something about the four characters coming together that created that sound. I can't take credit for all that."

Corgan said the return of Chamberlin — who was ousted following his role in the fatal overdose of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in July 1996 — had boosted the band's sound on an April club tour, taking it back to its previous heft.

"When Jimmy left, we weren't that anymore, so we didn't try to be," Corgan said of the rampaging, over-the-top rock version of the group. "Then Jimmy comes back and we literally went right back to where we left off because it has got something to do with the four people."

The bald-headed bandleader drew a sharp division between his own group's interactions and those of what he saw as the hired-gun members of groups such as industrial-rockers Nine Inch Nails.

"When you get right down to it," Corgan said, "what's the difference between me and [NIN leader] Trent Reznor or somebody else who leads a unit? Trent has made no bones about being the guy in his deal. He's rotated an ever-changing cast of characters. The difference is we've stayed together. It's just a difference in people's perceptions of what is copacetic, I guess.

"I know people are very romantic with the idea of how a band works, and they want to believe that everyone stays up till 4 a.m. smoking pot and jamming. But I don't really think that's really the case in anybody's band.

"Suffice to say," Corgan continued, "I'm really excited and I feel really good that we've managed to pull it together to make the Pumpkins what the Pumpkins are supposed to be." September 9, 99

The SPIFC has learned that, due to circumstances beyond their control, the highly anticipated new release from The Smashing Pumpkins has been delayed until February 15th, 2000.


The SPIFC is extremely sad to report it has learned that the rumor surrounding D'Arcy leaving the band is indeed true. Reasons for her departure are still unknown at this time, however more will be officially released in the weeks to come.

It must be noted, however, other rumors that have recently been circulating on the Internet and in the media are completely untrue.

For the record:

1) The band is *NOT* breaking up;

2) The reason for the departure of D'Arcy is *UNRELATED* to the return of Jimmy Chamberlin; and

3) The upcoming release, set for February, 2000 *WILL* still be coming out in February, 2000.

The SPIFC wishes D'Arcy "all the best" in her future endeavors.



September 4, 1999

Where's D'Arcy?

Taken from Rolling-Stone.com:

Is there trouble in the Pumpkin patch? Sources close to Smashing Pumpkins say that bassist D'Arcy Wretzky has been missing in action while Billy Corgan and the boys churn out their follow-up to 1998's techno-flavored Adore in a Chicago studio. "D'Arcy's participation in this album has been minimal at best," claimed one insider. "Billy has been calling the band a power trio, and [guitarist] James Iha has been doing all the bass parts."

The yet-untitled disc marks the return of Jimmy Chamberlain, who was dismissed for his drug use after the fatal heroin overdose of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996. After Chamberlain proved that he had left his drug problems behind, Corgan welcomed the drummer back to the band, but now the spotlight is on Wretzky, who reportedly has told friends that she has been dissatisfied with her role in the band for some time. Wretzky's supporters say that she has been weary of Corgan's storied dictatorial ways and even threatened to quit in Pittsburgh last April during the Pumpkins' brief club tour. Fan Web sites have been ablaze all week with talk of the bassist's exit.

The Pumpkins' management denied any knowledge of the split, as did representatives from Virgin Records, who said they would not be able to confirm or deny the rumors until Corgan returned from "unreachable vacation" next week. But last week, Billy Corgan was overheard telling partygoers about D'Arcy's exit at a bash following Cheap Trick's show in Rockford, Ill.

Some friends of the band who visited the group in the studio said they've never witnessed happier Pumpkins recording sessions. But others pointed out that there have always been tensions and the Pumpkins have thrived despite them. "Billy has never been happier," insisted one source.

To add fuel to the fire, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune two weeks ago, Corgan said, "I'm glad my band is back together for the moment. How long that is going to last, I don't know."

JAAN UHELSZKI



august 22, 1999

In a computer software program many music stores use, called The Muze, the Smashing Pumpkins are listed with a new release in October 1999. Rumours has it to be the documentary... stay tuned.



Pumpkin Head Corgan Smashes Woodstock

Taken from Launch:

Pumpkin Head Corgan Smashes Woodstock (8/16/99, 1 p.m. PDT) - One high-profile rock act that wasn't involved in Woodstock '99 was Smashing Pumpkins. Head Pumpkin Billy Corgan tells LAUNCH that he's glad, in retrospect, that the band did not play at the festival.

"It seemed like a big joke to me," he says. "[The promoters] approached us about playing. I won't even get into the business end of it, but it definitely seemed like whoever was running it had their head up their ass. They came to us very early, seemingly very interested in us playing. Then they seemed to lose interest. Then when some of the other acts dropped out, they got re-interested. So, you know, the whole thing smelled of money and being motivated by money, and to try to sell it under the Woodstock flag, which was a pure once-in-a-lifetime event."

Corgan says that Woodstock '99 seemed to have a shaky foundation from the beginning. "I thought the one in '94, although we weren't involved, seemed like it held together, though that was certainly riding hard under the alt-rock flag. What's going on now musically...combined with what they were trying to do on a commercial end, the whole thing didn't add up." Corgan suggests that the problems that plagued the festival were "not surprising" given the event seemingly did not "have a lot of integrity."

On a happier note, Corgan says he is relieved that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin is back with the band. Three years ago, after touring Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died of a heroin overdose in Chamberlin's New York City hotel room, the drummer was kicked out of the band so he could pursue rehab.

Last fall the Pumpkins got back together with Chamberlin, and Corgan says it's been great so far. "It's been fantastic. The Smashing Pumpkins, the four people making music, is definitely the preferred option...He's been back now almost 10 or 11 months. We're still rockin', that's the only thing I can say."

Corgan avoided the subject of Chamberlin's battle against drug addiction. "I don't really talk about that stuff," he says. "To me it's...more tabloid than reality."

-- Darren Davis, New York


Billy Corgan Says Smashing Pumpkins Album Will Surprise Fans



august 15, 1999

Identify is Here!!!

Its finially here....the real audio is on the real audio page on Netphoria and the mp3 can be found on the net...(hint hint check the amsp)



august 12, 1999

Corgan on Stigmata, New Pumpkins

Billy Corgan isn't expecting to make it to the Hollywood premiere of Stigmata, even though he and David Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson wrote and recorded the score, as well as writing "Identify," the Natalie Imbruglia-sung first single from the soundtrack, which hits stores Aug. 24.

I think I'm pretty much stuck here in Chicago," Corgan says, adding that while the premiere is in full swing, "I think I'll be in front of a mixing console." Of course, that means he's heavily engaged in the next Smashing Pumpkins album, which is expected out during the first half of 2000. Corgan says recording is "about 70, 75 percent done," and he adds that reports — based on the Pumpkins' short summer club tour — that it will be a return to the hard, guitar-driven rock of previous Pumpkins outings are a little bit off the mark.

"We've already changed a lot of that stuff all around," Corgan says. "It's definitely a new kind of take on the Pumpkin thing. We took a very kind of base approach to the tour, certainly with the new material. I think people kind of deduced that it was going to be a certain kind of approach and a certain kind of style, which was inaccurate."

Corgan demurs on saying what the material does sound like — "I'm just not gonna hem myself in with my own words," he explains — but he does say that having drummer Jimmy Chamberlin back in the band has been "fantastic," and that Stigmata partner Garson may guest on a few of the new Pumpkins tracks. — Gary Graff


Two Musical Acts Scheduled To Attend Raw Is War

This Monday's night WWF Raw Is War telecast from the Allstate Arena (formerly the Rosemont Horizon) in Chicago, IL is getting bigger and bigger as the show grows closer. Lucas of WWF News reported in today's update that two musical acts will be attending Raw Is War this Monday night in Chicago. Snoop Dogg and The Smashing Pumpkins will all be in attendance this Monday night. According to Lucas, Snoop Dogg will be backstage with MTV collecting footage and information for a SummerSlam '99 special on MTV during WWF Week from Monday, August 9, 1999 through Friday, August 13, 1999. The Smashing Pumpkins are reportedly big WWF fans and are expected to be in the crowd this Monday night. Neither musical act will be performing during the show, however. The guest appearances by Snoop Dogg and The Smashing Pumpkins add to what is shaping up to be one of the biggest editions of WWF Raw Is War in quite some time. Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura will be on Raw Is War this Monday night and the Millennium Countdown will officially end at 9:00pm ET (not 10:00pm ET as initially thought) to probably usher in the WWF debut of Chris Jericho.

Speaking of musical acts, country music star Chad Brock will be on WCW Monday Nitro from the Idaho Center in Boise, ID. Brock is expected to perform at least one song on the live show and may also get involved physically with some of the wrestlers. Brock trainer at the WCW Power Plant a few years ago in hopes of becoming a wrestler with a country music gimmick. Things didn't work out and Brock returned to the music scene and had a couple of No. 1 hits on the country charts.



july 29, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - FROM VIRGIN RECORDS THE SMASHING PUMPKINS NEW ALBUM RELEASE MOVED TO FEBRUARY 2000

The original line-up of The Smashing Pumpkins continue to record their new album, now slated for release in February 2000. Billy Corgan, James Iha, D'arcy and Jimmy Chamberlin are working in a Chicago studio on the follow up to the multi-platinum Adore.

During a career spanning over a decade, The Smashing Pumpkins have received countless accolades from critics and fans including two Grammy Awards, Rolling Stoneís 1997 Artist of the Year, Rolling Stone ís Readerís Poll 19996 Album of the Year and seven MTV Video Music Awards in 1997. Their most recent release, Adore, has sold over three million copies worldwide and was nominated this year for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album.

Joining the band once again in the studio is producer Flood, who worked with them on their multi-platinum double CD Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Also officially rejoining the band is Jimmy Chamberlin, who recently performed with The Smashing Pumpkins on their spring 1999 The Arising! tour. The surprise club tour garnered rave reviews from critics and adoration from fans who had the chance to see The Smashing Pumpkinsí blistering performances in intimate club atmospheres.

The press had some very good things to say:

"The quartet flat out rocked."
--The Los Angeles Times

"Everything went atomic: the song, the crowd and the pumpkins, back in their original lineup, playing clubs in a nine-city road test of fresh Billy Corgan tunes and plainly loving every minute"
--Rolling Stone

"The Pumpkins: simply smashing"
--The Washington Post

"Bolstered by Chamberlinís return and confident in its new material, it looked and sounded like a band focused on reclaiming its standing as one of modern rock's most potent forces."
--Chicago Tribune

If the club performances are any indication of what is to come in the year 2000 from The Smashing Pumpkins, fans across the globe can look forward to another extraordinary release.



july 27, 1999

billy corgan and yelena yemchuk collaborate for (t)here magazine premiere issue - summer 1999

(t)here - a new magazine with pictures and words dedicated to collaborations between artists - will feature a collaborative effort between billy corgan + yelena yemchuk in its premiere issue. four stories written by billy will appear alongside their inspiration...four photos shot by yelena.

(t)here asks artists to work together on projects that complement their style. the magazine focuses on photography, architecture, writing, fashion, sculpture and painting and the way the various forms interact.

the premiere issue will also feature photographs by carter smith, len prince, dah-len and timothy greenfield-sanders; writing by whitley strieber, tom wheeler and yuko otomo; sculptures by alain kirili; fashion by marithe & francois girbaud and agnes b; also a trip to the canary islands that feels like a short film. guests include quentin crisp, leonard lopate and beatrice dupire.

premiere issue hits july 25, 1999 and will be on sale for 3 months in bookstores as well as galleries and coffeehouses.



july 16, 1999

Ok click here to view the transcript of the live chat that happened wednesday with Billy and James, transcript curtiousy of the official site. Also on one other note, Hoser answered correctly the question, "name the venue of the very first smashing pumpkins gig...with just james and billy playing under the name smashing pumpkins???" - it was a polish bar... chicago 21...located at the corner of belmont and austin avenue in chicago. Hoser wins the autographed cymbal. Congrats to him!



july 13, 1999

Live Chat with Billy and James rescheduled for Wednesday July 14, 1999 at 6:00 PM Central. This will be a secure chat to eliminate the possibility of failure.

*System requirements are: Java enabled browser (i.e. Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer) and a valid e-mail address. Best question of the chat will win an autographed Jimmy Chamberlin cymbal



july 10, 1999

The long-awaited soundtrack to Stigmata finally has a confirmed track listing, with 10 tracks composed by Billy Corgan leading the way. All but seven songs on the album were scored by the Smashing Pumpkins frontman (along with composer-jazz artist Mike Garson) -- his first major foray into music scoring (allstar, May 11).

The soundtrack to Stigmata will hit stores on Aug. 24 on Virgin Records. The film, starring Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byrne, will hit theaters in August.

Here is the track listing for the soundtrack to Stigmata (*denotes tracks written by Mike Garson):

1. "Mary Mary," Chumbawamba
2. "Gramarye," Remy Zero
3. "All Is Full of Love," Bjork
4. "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell," David Bowie
5. "Release," Afro Celt Sound System featuring Sinead O'Connor
6. "Inertia Creeps," Massive Attack
7. "Identify"
8. "Identify (Dust)," "1,000,000 Voices," Billy Corgan
9. "Pop Pop," "Await*," "Reflect (Pretty)," Billy Corgan
10. "Reflect (Clouds)," "Truth," Billy Corgan
11. "Of Square Waves," "Random Thought," Billy Corgan
12. "Reflection/Possession," Billy Corgan
13. "Reflect (Gray)," "Of Sine Waves," Billy Corgan
14. "Distrbnce(After Sckhausen)*," "Reflect (Pause)*," "Orah," Billy Corgan
15. "Sustain," "Identify (Affectation)*," Billy Corgan
16. "All Answers Revealed*," "Reflect (Devotion)*"
17. "Purge," "10,000,000 Voices," "Reflect (Purity)," "Identify (Peace)*," Billy Corgan
18. "Reflect (Time)," "Tree Whispers," Billy Corgan


july 8, 1999

Ontario teen's pedal a smashing effect for Pumpkins

PEMBROKE -- When the Chicago-based rock group Smashing Pumpkins release a new album this fall, it'll feature a new guitar sound thanks to a local teen. Designed to "overdrive" and sustain the guitar sound, the effect pedal dubbed "The Creamy Dreamer" saw its beginning in Jeff Doucette's grade 9 electronics class.

Now 19, Doucette has parlayed that into a booming business. "It started out as kind of a bedroom sort of thing." he said. "People around school and the community heard about what I did and started getting me to do stuff to customize their instruments, mainly dealing in guitar effects."

Doucette found he had a knack for working with musicians, finding out what they wanted and customizing a distortion pedal for a unique sound.

"I actually started out doing it for no profit," said Doucette "Then I realized it was getting to the point where I could market my abilities, so I started up a Smashing Pumpkins-themed web site offering pedal modifications and custom guitar electronics."

After reverse-engineering the existing product and modifying the sound to his own liking, Doucette also created his own "signature modification," which grew in popularity attracting more than 5,000 customers from as far away as Japan, Europe and Australia.

"Basically people would send me their pedals. I'd modify them in my basement and tested them, then within 3 to 5 days, I'd ship them back." Doucette said.

He eventually found a business partner and launched his own line. Doucette's company, Sustain-Punch, offers more than 150 pedal and amplifier modifications and his own original pedal, "The Creamy Dreamer." Billy Corgan and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins were the first to receive The Creamy Dreamer. Within one week of receiving it, they e-mailed Doucette with a request to work out a business deal for both endorsement and a signature series.

"I got that e-mail at 3 a.m. and was very excited" he said. "It meant a lot of hard work had paid off."

And Doucette is already working on his next pedal, "The Bottle-Rocket." In the meantime, Doucette said he's looking forward to seeing how things work out with the Smashing Pumpkins and how his pedal will sound on their new album.

"I'm fairly excited. Things have certainly come a long way: From my business to international Internet sales."


june 24, 1999

PUMPKINS NEW RECORD UPDATE!!!!!

we've been pestering the band ceaselessly for an update, and we finally have one for you. the good news is the new record is now more than 60% completed, with approximately 21 songs still being considered along with a few select instrumentals. 11 of the songs you might recognize from the arising! tour, and 10 more additional songs that have yet to be played live by the band. the pumpkins hope to be finished in the first couple weeks of august, and are still planning a late fall release. and contrary to published rumours that the record is a return to the band's older styles, we ask and gently remind, when have the smashing pumpkins ever repeated themselves? stay tuned to smashingpumpkins.com for further updates...


june 21, 1999

Teen People recently put out a yearbook of stars. inside are two pics of Billy.


The first is him from middle school and the second is from his freshman year.

june 19, 1999

New pics!!!!!!


They are from a live show during the H.O.R.D.E. festival in Cincinnati.

june 17, 1999

What Happened??

For all who attempted to take part in the LIVE Chat with The Smashing Pumpkins last evening, GMV Network would like to extend a sincere apology for the shortcomings of this event. We were the host server for the chat and were not fully prepared for the technical difficulties that were incurred. The wrong chat channel address was posted, which in turn caused mass confusion, forcing the awaiting fans to go to the wrong chat room. This issue has been corrected and to make this up to the fans that wanted to take part in the chat, the band will have another gish chat session, to be scheduled sometime before July 15th. GMV Network extends a sincere apology to The Smashing Pumpkins and all of you who were awaiting the opportunity to chat live with Billy and James. As soon as we have further information, we'll let you know.

june 16, 1999

WEBCAST FAILURE

the webcast that was supposed to take place last night at 9:00 failed. some problems were found and they were unable to continue it. the official site has more info.

THE WINNER

a winner was announced yesterday about which song would be described by billy. snail beat all at 29%.

june 15, 1999

since we first announced the gish live chat with billy corgan and james iha, scheduled for tuesday june 15th at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central, we have been receiving concerned e-mails from fans wondering if they will be able to log on that night. we want to let you know that we hope be able to accommodate approximately 40, 000 fans. to those concerned that they will not be able to participate in the live event due to the heavy traffic, we are making it possible for everyone to submit their questions in advance. pose your gish-era related questions to: chat@smashingpumpkins.com any submitted questions used on the live chat will receive a special edition Gish tee-shirt, and for those of you who can't get on or will unfortunately miss it, we will print the entire transcript of the chat immediately following it's conclusion, here on smashingpumpkins.com.

Technical requirements and jargon:

You will need to have a chat program to participate in the live event. If you do not already have one you can download the program from:

www.mirc.com for persons with windows

www.ircle.com for persons with macintosh

june 13, 1999

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GISH MONTH

--on June 15th, a live web chat with Billy and James about the writing and making of gish

--the complete transcript of a march 1997 interview with Billy, conducted while he listened back to the gish 24 track master tapes for the first time since march of 1991

--the transcript of a 1997 interview with producer butch vig about the making of gish

--exclusive interviews with many of the principals who worked with the pumpkins in 1991

--for the first time ever, the complete and accurate lyrics of gish and related b-sides

--never before seen photos of the band from 1991
taken from The official site

june 7, 1999

GISH MONTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

we are pleased to announce some of the things we have planned for gish month....starting on june 15th, when we will have a live chat with billy and james about the writing and recording of gish....the details are still being sorted out as to times, etc...also we will have the complete transcript of a rare interview from march 1997 that billy did while listening back to the gish 24- track masters for the first time since march of 1991....as well as the transcript of a 1997 interview with gish producer butch vig about the making of gish....and speaking of butch, we have contacted many people who were involved with the pumpkins at that time for fresh interviews about the album and the time....caroline head keith wood, former manager andy gershon, former virgin a+r mark williams, and many more....never before seen photos from 1991....and finally, we will be posting the complete and accurate gish lyrics and the related b-sides for the first time anywhere... and maybe, just maybe, a few more surprises as well....
All avalible here!

5/28/99
natalie imbruglia sings "identify" for STIGMATA

natalie imbruglia has just completed billy corgan and mike garson's song "identify" for the mgm movie STIGMATA. the song will be released on the soundtrack along with 41 minutes of the dynamic duo's instrumental score. recorded by natalie in london, the track was executive produced by nigel goodrich, he of radiohead fame...p.s. we've heard it and it sounds great...shhh!

5/12/99
ADORE DOCUMENTARY

this fall the smashing pumpkins are set to release an as yet untitled documentary shot during the entire course of their groundbreaking adore tour. filmed over roughly 5 months of rehearsing, recording, and touring around the world, this will be the pumpkins first home video release since vieuphoria in 1994. the video will be directed by jesse ignjatovic, a producer for mtv who took a leave of absence to travel with the band. covering may to september of 1998, the adore tour saw the pumpkins playing in european amusement parks, botanical gardens, ports of call, and even parking garages. also featured will be the unprecedented american charity tour, that covered 14 cities and raised over 2.7 million dollars.

5/12/99
Official Site Updated

The official site has been updated with pictures and news and more! Check it out and maybe take part in their contest. Go here.

5/1/99
D'arcy has hit the big 3-1! Well, I suppose it isn't that big, but hey, she's not the youngest in the band anymore!

New merchandice at the official site

The Pumpkins now have T-shirts and posters and stuff at their web site. go to thesmashingpumpkins.com for more info and a way to order it!

4/26/99
Possible offical Vieuphoria 2?

The Smashing Pumpkins are continuing to tape their shows for a possible a video to be released in the near future. They taped the San Deigo show and the Phoenix show for sure and Billy even said himself that many of the Adore shows were taped for a possible video to be released. Hopefully we'll see an offical Vieuphoria 2 soon.

4/19/99
D'arcy at the Pitsburgh show

I'm getting conflicting reports about D'arcy at the Pitsburgh show, from what I've heard she was very upset about something, some people said she was drunk, some people said she was upset about something Billy said. I'm not sure what happened exactly but I also heard that she threatened to quit. Anyone that was at the show please e-mail me and tell me what happened. You can read some reviews from the show at the Smashing Pumpkins Collection.

4/12/99
the band has almost 40 new songs, and the album (which will be a single album) has been pared down to about 24…they're shooting for a late september release…

billy has recorded music for a new movie called STIGMATA starring patricia arquette and gabriel byrne….the soundtrack, to be released on virgin records, will have 35-40 minutes of instrumental score music composed for the movie by billy and mike garson with contributions from bon harris… the album is set to come out sometime in june, and will also feature a stigmata theme/love song written by billy and mike g…. a singer for the song has yet to be determined…

jimmy chamberlain is now OFFICIALLY back with the smashing pumpkins…contrary to published reports, leaks by virgin records and so-called "inner circle friends" that jimmy was "back" before he was…if you want information from the source…you can find it at thesmashingpumpkins.com…if you want rumors…well, you know where to look.

4/11/99
The Smashing Pumpkins have a official web site!!! check it out in the links section.

Taken from the official web site:

hello and welcome to the launch of our new website…..(finally) we are excited to have you here with us…TONIGHT! james, d'arcy, and i are proud to announce the return of jimmy to the band…this will be our first show in almost 3 years…so being that we're a little nervous we thought we'd broadcast it to the world…we've been rehearsing and writing like crazy…at present we have about 24 songs that we're considering for the album, with another 10 or 12 waiting in b-side heaven…we hope to have the album out in late september…the sound? let's just say it rocks…on a related note, i've been putting the finishing touches on the STIGMATA soundtrack, which i think will be out sometime in june…there will be about 35-40 minutes of instrumental music that mike garson and i did (with help from bon harris) plus 6 songs by other artists…i've also written a theme song, and we're looking for someone to sing it…so to finish for now…thank you for being here…it is an absolute joy to have the band back together…i wouldn't trade these last three months for the world… god bless billy c

4/7/99
Original Drummer Said To Be Back With Smashing Pumpkins

Jimmy Chamberlin expected to return as band plans to unveil new material on club tour.

Senior Writer Gil Kaufman reports:

Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, whom the Smashing Pumpkins fired in 1996, will be back with the band for a two-week club tour that begins Saturday in Detroit, according to sources familiar with the group's plans.

Queens of the Stone Age singer/guitarist Josh Homme, whose band will open for the Pumpkins, said the group's leader, Billy Corgan, told him -- when Corgan invited the hard-rock band to open the tour two months ago -- "Dude, Jimmy's back in the band."

4/3/99
Sold out in minutes!

As many people found out the tickets for the club tour sold out in minutes. The Washington D.C show sold out in 3 minutes and the Detriot show sold in 6 and a half minutes according to Ticketmaster. Many people e-mailing Netphoria told them that they called 20-30 minutes a head of time and Ticketmaster put them on hold until they went on sale. If you were luckly enough to get some tickets remember to bring your cameras and recorders, and if you didn't get tickets there are always scalpers if you are willing to pay the big bucks.

4/1/99
Tickets on sale

Tickets went on sale today for the U.S. club tour. If you're lucky enough to get a ticket you're probably be the first to hear the new songs, so bring your recorders along with you, the rest of us want to hear them too!

Current Sales for the shows on Ticketmaster are:

Apr 10 1999 8:00PM - SAINT ANDREWS HALL, DETROIT
Apr 12 1999 9:00PM - BOGARTS, CINCINNATI
Apr 14 1999 7:00PM - TRAMPS, NEW YORK
Apr 17 1999 7:00PM - METROPOL, PITTSBURGH

3/28/99
Smashing Pumpkins Book Rare Club Tour
The Smashing Pumpkins are taking their multiplatinum arena rock act back to the clubs where their career first caught fire nearly a decade ago.
The rare mini-tour will find the band in intimate nightclub settings beginning with an April 10 show at Detroit's 1,000-capacity St. Andrews Hall, a Pumpkins spokesperson said Friday (March 26).
The set of gigs by the superstar Chicago rock act is currently slated to feature eight other dates in similar-sized venues.

3/26/99
It's James Iha's birthday today! His 31st. D'arcy is the youngest member at this point. :)

3/17/99
Happy Birthday, Billy! He turns 32 today. Wear your Pumpkins shirts with pride.

3/9/99
Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and Fountains of Wayne/Ivy leader Adam Schlesinger have opened a recording studio, Stratosphere Sound, in New York. The open-to-the-public studio is in Manhattan's meat-packing district. The first band slated to record at Stratosphere is Virginia rock group Fulflej, who are signed to Iha's Scratchie Records label. -Nephoria

3/6/99-
D'arcy is to follow in the footsteps of James Iha, by doing a one-off solo project. She is rumoured to be pursuing a more 'Grunge-Rock' approach when she takes to the studios in between recording the Pumpkins as yet untitled album that they have just started work on. A close friend of D'arcy said that she has had a desire to produce a solo album pursuing this other side to her musical creativity for some time. D'arcy will be vocalist and bass player, and there will be two session musicians on drums and guitar.A guest appearance will be made by Hole's 'Courtney Love', who is also good friends with D'arcy and Billy. D'arcy is also said to be playing guitar in some of the songs.
-Taken from Netphoria.org

2/16/99-
He's Back...
By "S.H."- LA Times Staff
Los Angeles Times: Sunday Feburary 14th, 1999
Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, fired from the Smashing Pumpkins following the 1996 drug overdose death of keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, as been rehired by the band, as is working with it on material for a new album in Chigago. Sources close to the band say that Chamberlin has overcome his own addiction problems, and that his presence has re-energized the group, especially leader, Billy Corgan.
The incident occured when Chamberlin was using heroin with Melvoin, the band's touring keyboardist, at a New York hotel. Both passed out, and when the drummer awoke, he was unable to rouse Melvoin. Paramedics were called, but were unable to revive the musician.
Chamberlin was arrested the day after Melvoin's death, and charged with misdemeanor drug possession. He entered a drug rehab program immeadiately and later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct, with jail time waived in exchange for his completion of treatment.
The death, which folllowed the drug-related deaths of Kurt Cobain, and Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon, and the high-profile drug problems of Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland, stimulated calls in the music buisness for policies and programs to stem drug use. -Taken from the L. A. Times