Return of the Smashing Pumpkins? I Think Not 18 years, 10 months ago by Martey Dodoo

One of the more interesting items in yesterday's music news was the appearance of a full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune by Billy Corgan, lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, one of the most popular bands of the 1990s. In the advertisement, he makes reference to his wish to "revive the Smashing Pumpkins." Several online music sites, include Stereogum and Pitchfork, wrote about this, suggesting that it was possible that a reunion might be in the works.

But if you actually read what appeared in the Tribune, it becomes clear that Corgan only mentions the Pumpkins to sell his new solo album, TheFutureEmbrace. While everyone was going ga-ga over the sixth paragraph, nobody bothered to read the seventh:

For a year now I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive The Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams. In this desire I feel I have come home again.

'TheFutureEmbrace' represents a new beginning, not an ending. It picks up the thread of the as-yet-unfinished work and charter of The Smashing Pumpkins.

Here one sees the eternal optimism of rock music fans. There is nothing in Corgan's ad about how Iha, D'Arcy, and Chamberlin (the other members of the Smashing Pumpkins) are joining him on his tour, nor any apologies for the ridiculous statements he made since the Pumpkins broke up.

The truth of the matter is is that james iha broke up the smashing pumpkins...not me, not jimmy, but james...did it help that d'arcy was fired for being a mean spirited drug addict, who refused to get help? No, that didn't help keep the band together, not at all...