Once upon a time, I was dragged to see the Smashing Pumpkins play second slot on a billy with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam. After openers Pearl Jam did their patented Bad Company shtick, the Pumpkins came out and breathed the life into songs their psychodramatic debut, Gish. James Iha and Billy Corgan traded some of the most violent guitar riffage ever heard outskirts of Daydream Nation, while bassist D'Arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamerlian drove a sonic tanker truck through the dumbfounded crowd. Harnessing that same energy in the studio, the Pumpkins went on to record "Siamese Dream", an album that lacerated the gums of rock audiences prone to obsessing about Axi Rose. Still unconvinced? Rent the Pumps' "Viewphoria" videotape, fast-foward to "Silverfuck", and chap your lips on their asses. (Virgin, 1993) [JP]