What the hell’s going on with the Pumpkins?
*Updated*
It’s been in the cards for well over a couple of months now, but Billy Corgan has something up his sleeve for the twentieth anniversary of his band, the Smashing Pumpkins. Everything from a pre-Gish tour, a new single, and an anniversary show have been promised, but details are still sketchy. In fact, there’s a little bit of “viral marketing”, if you will, going down.
Take for instance, the official site. Instead of the usual Statue of Liberty with the title, both the Statue and the band’s letterhead, “The Smashing Pumpkins”, have been submerged (as you can see below), replaced with a shaky, Earthquake-styled, “Smashing Pumpkins.” There’s also a shattered, sinking “Beta Version” off to the right, which might suggest something else. What may that be? Let’s turn to the fans.
On message boards for Netphoria.org and ThePumpkins.net, several fans insist there’s a sly game on account of Corgan’s “masterful” thinking. Whether or not that’s true is for us to wait upon, but it’s fun to speculate, right? Some fans have noted the sites use of color, which went from red to gold to green to grey and black, perhaps insisting that there’s a progression to follow. Others have remarked on the “Beta Version” image, hinting the Zeitgeist-era may have been a warm up to the “real” thing, which could be anything at this point, from the return of James Iha or what many are proposing to be, “a gothic return” in sound.
Whatever the case, the only thing that’s known at this point are little teases from Corgan, such as last Thursday’s bulletin (regarding some August shows):
The last tour of the U.S. by the band consisted of mostly larger venues. This tour will prominently be booked in smaller venues across the country. Cities that they have not played since reforming will be on the route. Smaller venues means less tickets, and tickets will most likely go very quickly. Keep your eyes peeled! Dates and cities are still forthcoming but will be revealed ANY MINUTE.
After a long Fourth of July weekend, nothing came until a few days later, this morning, which only offered more confirmation of what we’ve already known.
“The August tour is going to be a blast… Expect a very loud and raucous show from us…and we are very, very happy to know we will finally be playing our own shows come November in New York, L.A., and Chicago… The 20th Anniversary shows will be magical… We are already working on lots of surprises”
In addition to Corgan’s cryptic messages, the official site indicates that the pre-Gish era tour (whatever that might mean) will be pushed back to 2009, with some focus on these upcoming shows and plans. That being said, keep a close look out for anything and all Smashing Pumpkins this fall. Something big is going to happen and a return to Chicago (after all this time) is sure to draw some attention.
That’s why we’ll be there.
Until more information is released regarding the anniversary shows in November, be sure to check out the little warm up tour they’ll be having across the states next month. It’s already creating quite the buzz, as the first date to go on sale (August 9th at Hammond, IN) is the closest they’ve come to Chicago yet. The only problem? They’re going at $83 bucks a pop!!
Unfortunately, we won’t be there!
Smashing Pumpkins 2008 “Warm Up” Tour Dates (So Far…)
8/19/08 - St Andrews Hall - Detroit Mi
8/21/08 - Metropol - Pittsburgh PA
8/24/08 - The Phoenix - Toronto ON
8/25/08 - The Phoenix - Toronto ON
8/28/08 - venue TBA - Montreal Canada
Check Out:
the correct dates are on sp.com
The Metropol doesn’t exist anymore.
paul, where have you heard these dates are incorrect?
Those dates are incorrect - check your source
plus over 100 a ticket for a 5000 person venue sucks
Johnny, look for our Faint interview and our live show report for Vedder on the 8/21 show.
Also, stop drinking the hatraid, I agree, but Iha is also an original member, moreso than Jimmy actually. Though, my respect for the band would go up if Corgan actually let the other members in on some of the writing/and or singing.
Singing, definitely.
i could care less about Iha. Jeff is a much better guitar player(and also a huge fan before playing in the band).
by the way, tix for these smaller shows will probably be pretty high in an attempt to trim the fat of the crowd. By “fat”, I mean assholes that would scream “disarm” or “1979″ during the Gish set.
The shows that eventually happen in Chicago will be amazing, and I’m sure a step higher than everything that happened so far. This little tour before is a practice tour(which they’ve done every time before doing a big tour). They’ll get tight playing live, and return in Chicago. And I will be there, even though i have to travel from Texas.
I think his attitude and ego are enough to sour the experience of seeing them play some oldies. Besides, I’m not really in a rush to hang out with all his new EMO 18 year old fanbase. They are the new Gothic Generation to manipulate. My money is much better spent on 3 days at Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, Summerfest, Summercamp, and Hopefully Eddie Vedder Live Solo. and the Faint! holler!
Johnny, he just mentioned things like, “Well, this is the closest we’ll be going home.” and little things like that… nothing particularly jabbing.
And Zarik, I disagree. Have you ever been in a band? I’ve had plenty of moments where I’ve had urges going back to specific sounds or styles that were earmarked by particular bands I’ve been in. As far as cash cow goes, I’m not too sure… most of the BS decisions on Zeitgeist were due to a shitty record contract and horrible decisions on the studio.
Now what I will agree with is that he needs to get his head straight and realize Iha was a major contributing force to the band. I could care less about D’arcy, but Iha is one thing. And “get out while he could”… what exactly did he do? He went from one control freak to another (Maynard), so little good he did there.
Either way, I complain about my money wasting also, but not if it’s with a band I enjoy seeing, which I did last year.
If his pathetic grab for attention over the past 6 years didn’t open your eyes to the ridiculous and annoying ego Billy Corgan has (and how many yes-men like Chamberlain he apparently has urging him on) I feel sorry for you. Keep wasting your money on him, because it’s all about that. A few years back I saw him at a psychic reading being held in some Borders around the Chicagoland area. Iha was smart to get out when he did, and Billy’s constant slandering of James and D’Arcy is getting beyond belief.
Someone handed me a Zeitgeist sticker at Lollapalooza last year and I promptly ripped it up. Gish and Siamese Dream were a result of Butch Vig at his finest, along with a band that was hungry and wanted success badly.
I just hope I want to go when the time comes. How has he highlighted his apprehension on tour? I’ve really stopped paying attention to all the reports on their comeback.
I thought the same thing, too. My guess? Something must have happened shortly after 2005. Maybe the backlash or lack of media attention frustrated Corgan. Either way, there’s a reason for his venomous apprehension to come back home, as he highlighted on tour, specifically at the Normal, IL show.
I also have to say, it’s pretty cool the biggest shows yet will be here, too. That says something.
And my money is that he’s bringing something back. And what the hell is Iha up to anyway? Last I heard, he was doing another solo album? Bah.
I just can’t fathom what has kept him/them/whatever from coming back STILL. It’s a faceslap and really, for someone who’s loved um since like 1990, and grew up a town over, why they’ve not done anything in Chicago. ISU? Really? Some people have lives outside of college townie binge drinking in the middle of bumblefuck. They spent a fricken 2 week set in San Francisco!!! Hard to forget.
Ah, to each is own. But, had you seen them last year live, you’d be saying something otherwise.. they tore up Normal, IL.
I’m with you with the new recordings (though a few songs are great), but I’m psyched for what’s to come.
Stopped caring about this 2 years after Billy announced the reuniting of (zwan 2.0 via the Chicago Tribune) and still hadn’t come to Chicago. Go away. I’m almost sorry for loving Gish and Siamese as much as I do.
Jul 16th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
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