Smashing Pumpkins, The Shins Highlight Splendour in the Grass Lineup : April 24, 2012

The recently announced lineup for this year’s Splendour in the Grass Music Festival contains some very big names that will be heading down under later this year. The [...]

Billy Corgan Rails Against Strippers, Posers Cluttering Music Industry : March 14, 2012

Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan minced few words about his thoughts of the music business yesterday at Austin’s South By Southwest Festival. In a one-on-one co [...]

Smashing Pumpkins Readies Fall Tour Dates : August 15, 2011

This fall, the Smashing Pumpkins; consisting of frontman Billy Corgan, bassist Nicole Fiorentino, drummer Mike Byrne and guitarist Jeff Schroeder; will be returning to th [...]

Smashing Pumpkins Hit Smaller Venues for new EP : June 05, 2010

Alt-rock act Smashing Pumpkins had just unveiled the itinerary for their upcoming tour to support their newest release, the EP "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope Vol. 1: Songs f [...]

Smashing Pumpkins are Hiring! : March 10, 2010

For the 9.7% of the population scouring the want ads daily, I’ve got a job lead for you. Billy Corgan is looking for new band mates to play with. Notorious weirdo Corga [...]

smashing pumpkins Biography

The alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins were formed in 1988 in Chicago. James Iha (guitar) and Billy Corgan (guitar, vocals) formed the band. The group has also included bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, and currently includes Nicole Fiorentino (backing vocals, bass guitar), drummer Mike Byrne and guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

The Smashing Pumpkins disavowed alt-rock's punk rock roots and instead have a densely layered, diverse, guitar heavy sound that contains elements of progressive rock, psychedelic rock, dream pop, heavy metal, grunge, gothic rock and electronica in later recordings. The primary songwriter of the group is frontman Billy Corgan. The band's songs and albums have been shaped by his cathartic lyrics and grandiose musical ambitions.

With the release of “Siamese Dream,” their second album, in 1993 the Smashing Pumpkins got their break into the music industry's mainstream. Through extensive touring along with “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” their double follow up album in 1995, the band built their audience. The set debuted in the No. 1 spot on Billboard's 200 album chart. The Smashing Pumpkins have sold over 18.75 million U.S. albums, making them one of the most critically acclaims and commercially successful bands from the 1990s. Despite their success however, diminishing album sales, drug use and internal fighting led to the band breaking up in 2000.

Jimmy Chamberlin and Billy Corgan in 2006 reunited to record “Zeitgeist,” a new album from the Smashing Pumpkins. Through most of 2007 as well as 2008 the band toured along with a lineup that rotated tween five to nine musicians. In early 2009, Chamberlin left. New vocalist/bassist Nicole Fiorentino and drummer Mike Byrne solidified the band's new lineup along with Schroeder and Corgan. For most of 2010, the band was on tour. Currently the Smashing Pumpkins are recording the albums “Oceania” and “”Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.”