Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are a popular and acclaimed American alternative rock band which formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. more...

Less influenced by punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins have a densely layered and guitar-heavy sound, containing elements of gothic rock, heavy metal, power pop, psychedelic rock, shoegazer-style production and, in later recordings, electronica. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgan’s songs ranged from angry (“Bullet with Butterfly Wings”) to compassionate (“Disarm”) to jubilant (“Cherub Rock”).

Selling more than 40-million albums world-wide, the Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s, but internal fighting, diminishing sales, and cultural vitality hampered the band in their later years, leading to a 2000 break-up. In April of 2006, the band officially announced they were reuniting and recording a new album.

Members

The Smashing Pumpkins were originally Billy Corgan (guitar and vocals), James Iha (guitar), D'arcy Wretzky (bass) and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums). However, Melissa Auf der Maur replaced Wretzky in the final year (Dec. 1999 to Dec. 2000) of the band. Although Wretzky left during the recording process of MACHINA/The Machines of God, she is still credited in the liner notes of the album and was cited by Corgan during interviews as one of the four true members of The Smashing Pumpkins. The band also dealt with several replacement drummers through 1997 - 1998 including Matt Walker and Kenny Aronoff.

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