The Smashing Pumpkins

Artist Image: The Smashing Pumpkins
Attribution
Image Credit: Gyang333 (Taken at Smashing Pumpkins concert at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis MO on October 18, 2012), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1988. Formed by frontman Billy Corgan (lead vocals, lead guitar) and James Iha (rhythm guitar), the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin (drums), D'arcy Wretzky (bass guitar), Melissa Auf der Maur (bass guitar), and currently includes Mike Byrne (drums), Nicole Fiorentino (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Jeff Schroeder (rhythm guitar) among its membership. Disavowing the punk rock roots of many of their alt-rock contemporaries, the Pumpkins have a diverse, densely layered, and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, grunge, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, shoegaze style production, and, in later recordings, electronica. Frontman Billy Corgan is the group's primary songwriter-his grand musical ambitions and cathartic lyrics have shaped the band's albums and songs, which have been described as "anguished, bruised reports from Billy Corgan's nightmare-land". The Smashing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993's Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 follow-up, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. With 18.75 million albums sold in the United States, The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales led to a 2000 break-up. In 2006, Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin reconvened to record a new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. The band toured with a rotating lineup of between five and nine musicians through much of 2007 and 2008 with new member Jeff Schroeder before Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. New drummer Mike Byrne and bassist Nicole Fiorentino solidified a new lineup with Corgan and Schroeder, toured through much of 2010 and 2011, and are currently recording the album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope and the album-within-an-album Oceania.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1988
Number of Albums 18
Record Label
Website www.smashingpumpkins.com
Wikipedia The Smashing Pumpkins on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

Who wrote RIP?

Murray Englehart

...ess hardedged adjectives to describe the Smashing Pumpkins' sound. Murray Englehart in RIP observed, The collage that makes up the Pumpkinsranging fro...
Billy Corgan's lonely guy persona has been explored by what?

the media

...riter Billy Corgan, whose lonely guy persona has been much explored by the media , admitted to Englehart that he did indeed listen to Black Sabbath at ...
How many studio albums did the group have?

five

... that he did indeed listen to Black Sabbath at a young age. Leaving only five studio albums for critics to ponder, the group disbanded in 2000. While ...
What year did Corgan get the band together?

1988

...rock 'n' roll to full, impassioned life. Corgan got the band together in 1988 after warming up with a band in Florida called the Marked, so named beca...
What was the name of the band in Florida called?

the Marked

... band together in 1988 after warming up with a band in Florida called the Marked , so named because of Corgan's strawberrycolored birthmark on his arm ...
What color was Corgan's birthmark on his arm?

strawberrycolored

... a band in Florida called the Marked, so named because of Corgan's strawberrycolored birthmark on his arm and a similar mark on another band member's ...
Iha is a big fan of what?

Star Trek: The Next Generation

...ar sunglasses and act cool), Iha (shy, friendly, big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation ), and Chamberlin (madman). Alluding to various personal pro...
Who is a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation?

Iha

...r Spin: D'Arcy (thumbnail sketch: likes to wear sunglasses and act cool), Iha (shy, friendly, big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation), and Chamberl...
What is Chamberlin's nickname?

madman

..., friendly, big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation), and Chamberlin ( madman ). Alluding to various personal problems, including the end of D'Arcy's ...
What band has reunited for a summer tour?

Smashing Pumpkins

...After nearly two decades of drama, Smashing Pumpkins have reunited their classic lineup sort of for a summer tour. Some 30 years ago, as The Smashing ...
Who is fired days after the death of Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin?

Jimmy Chamberlin

...efined Smashing Pumpkins infinite sadness. July 17th, 1996 Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin is fired days after the overdose death of Pumpkins keyboardist Jon...
Who was the keyboardist who was killed by overdose?

Jonathan Melvoin

...lin is fired days after the overdose death of Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin . The keyboardist had supposedly shot heroin with the drummer in Ne...
What is the name of the band member who will be a substitute drummer for Matt Walker in the future?

Matt Cameron

... three years include Filters Matt Walker, Soundgarden and Pearl Jams Matt Cameron , Becks Joey Waronker and John Mellencamp stickman Kenny Aronoff. Apr...
When does Chamberlin return to the band?

April 15th, 1999

...n, Becks Joey Waronker and John Mellencamp stickman Kenny Aronoff. April 15th, 1999 Chamberlin returns to the band, a feat Corgan once said would take...
On what date did Rolling Stone report that the Pumpkins are recording a new album in Chicago?

August 5th, 1999

... feat Corgan once said would take a lot of tea in China to happen. August 5th, 1999 Rolling Stone reports that the Pumpkins are recording a new album ...
What is the name of the Chicago based Smashing Pumpkins Rock band?

Functional Dysfunctionals

...Smashing Pumpkins Rock band Functional Dysfunctionals Intense Lyrics, Innovative Guitar Work Indie or Not Indie? Selected discography Sources Critics ...
What are some of the influences in the songs of the Smashing pumpkins?

Black Sabbath, Queen, Boston, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie

... the Chicago based Smashing Pumpkins Black Sabbath, Queen, Boston, the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and use countless hardedged adjecti...
Whose philosophies give the band its shape and purpose?

Billy Corgans

...s way into the press. Awards: Nominated for a Grammy Award. However, Billy Corgans philosophies, personal and musical, give the band its shape and pur...
What is the name of the band's fulllength debut album?

Gish

... its shape and purpose. His angst pervades their fulllength debut album, Gish , and followup, Siamese Dream, which was named for Corgans longing for th...
Where did Billy Corgan and James Iha meet?

in a record store

...in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1988. Billy Corgan and James Iha met in a record store , and began performing in local nightclubs with their bassist, Dar...
Who is the bassist of The Smashing Pumpkins?

Darcy Wretzky

... store, and began performing in local nightclubs with their bassist, Darcy Wretzky , using a drum machine. Playing with a drum machine frustrated both ...
How many albums did The Smashing Pumpkins sell in the U.S. in 2006?

18.3 million

...der Billy Corgans songs ranged from angry (X.Y.U.) Selling more than 18.3 million albums in the United States alone (as of 2006), The Smashing Pumpkin...
What year did the band break up?

2000

...r record company, hampered the band in their later years, leading to the 2000 breakup. Besides touring with the band she also appeared in the videos a...
Who is the frontman of the band?

Billy Corgan

...rican alternative rock band from Chicago. Formed in 1988 by frontman Billy Corgan (lead vocals, guitar), D'arcy Wretzky (bass), James Iha (guitar), an...
What is James Iha's job?

guitar

...n Billy Corgan (lead vocals, guitar), D'arcy Wretzky (bass), James Iha ( guitar ), and (drums), the band has undergone many lineup changes. The current ...
What is D'arcy Wretzky's job title?

bass

... in 1988 by frontman Billy Corgan (lead vocals, guitar), D'arcy Wretzky ( bass ), James Iha (guitar), and (drums), the band has undergone many lineup ch...
What is the name of The Smashing Pumpkins' second album?

Siamese Dream

...ns broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993's Siamese Dream . The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995...
In what year was the double album Mellon Collie released?

1995

...ese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and their 1995 followup, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debut...
What was the name of the Smashing Pumpkins 1995 followup album?

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

...nsive touring and their 1995 followup, the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness , debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart...
How many albums were sold worldwide?

30 million

...Sadness, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. With 30 million albums sold worldwide, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most com...
What led to a 2000 breakup?

internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales

...tically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, drug use, and diminishing record sales led to a 2000 breakup. In 2006, Corgan and Ch...
The Smashing Pumpkins' second album was released in what year?

1993

...hing Pumpkins broke into the musical mainstream with their second album, 1993 's Siamese Dream. The group built its audience with extensive touring and...
How many albums did the Smashing Pumpkins sell in the U.S.?

20 million

...s, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. With 20 million albums sold in the United States alone, the Smashing Pumpkins was one...
What was the name of the new Smashing Pumpkins album?

Zeitgeist

...d Jimmy Chamberlin reconvened to record a new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist . After touring throughout 2007 and 2008 with a lineup including new g...
The Smashing Pumpkins were the least influenced by what genre of music?

traditional underground rock

...am, the Smashing Pumpkins were the group least influenced by traditional underground rock . After a misunderstood foray into electronic rock on Adore, ...
Who was the son of a jazz guitarist?

William Patrick Corgan

... that ended with 2007's Zeitgeist. The son of a jazz guitarist, William Patrick Corgan grew up in a Chicago suburb, leaving home at the age of 19 to m...
Where did William Patrick Corgan grow up?

Chicago suburb

...t. The son of a jazz guitarist, William Patrick Corgan grew up in a Chicago suburb , leaving home at the age of 19 to move to Florida with his fledglin...
What year did Zeitgeist air?

2007

...ing the group to sleep for an extended early2000s hiatus that ended with 2007 's Zeitgeist. The son of a jazz guitarist, William Patrick Corgan grew up...
Who was James Iha?

a graphic arts student at Loyola University

...d, the Marked. At the shop he met James Iha (guitar), a graphic arts student at Loyola University , and the two began collaborating, performing, and re...
In what year did the Smashing Pumpkins release their debut single?

1990

... Jimmy Chamberlin, a former jazz musician, as their fulltime drummer. In 1990 , the Smashing Pumpkins released their debut single, I Am One, on the loc...
What was the name of the single that the band released in 1990?

I Am One

...e drummer. In 1990, the Smashing Pumpkins released their debut single, I Am One , on the local Chicago label Limited Potential. The single quickly sold...
On what label was I Am One released?

Limited Potential

... released their debut single, I Am One, on the local Chicago label Limited Potential . The single quickly sold out, and in December the band released T...
In what month did the band release Tristessa?

December

...l Chicago label Limited Potential. The single quickly sold out, and in December the band released Tristessa on Sub Pop. By this point, the Smashing Pu...
What label did the Smashing Pumpkins sign to?

Virgin Records

...e to a major label without losing indie credibility. They signed to Virgin Records , yet it was decided that the group's debut would be released on the...