The Smashing Pumpkins

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Chicago, United States (1988 – 2000, 2007 – present)

The Smashing Pumpkins are an band, formed 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, D’Arcy Wretzky, using a drum machine. Playing with a drum machine frustrated both the band and their audience, and so Chicago jazz drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was hired soon afterwards.

Less influenced by than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had a densely layered, guitar-heavy sound, with powerful loud-to-soft-to-loud transitions, while still picking up , , , , -style production.

In later recordings, namely Adore, the fourth album, an flair filtered in after Jimmy Chamberlin temporarily left the band for drug rehab. Though Jimmy Chamberlin returned for their fifth album, Machina/The Machines of God, electronica undertones remained. The emotional tone of bandleader Billy Corgan’s songs ranged from angry (X.Y.U.) to dour (Disarm) to jubilant (Cherub Rock).

Selling more than 18.3 million albums in the United States alone (as of 2006), The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. However, internal fighting, diminishing sales, drug problems, cultural vitality, and what is speculated to be improper treatment from their record company, hampered the band in their later years, leading to the 2000 break-up.

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  • right33

    Jimmy was as crucial to Billy in otherworldly brilliance and talent in getting me into the Pumpkins. they're still musically above many bands today, but yes, without listening to Jimmy it feels like an injustice to the Pumpkins and for music in general. As a musician, Jimmy IS one of the greatest ever, and he's a prodigy in the same vein as Jaco Pastorius, be it on the drums. He without a doubt is; and really, it's a shame/crime more people don't really know much about Jimmy Chamberlin. What's absolutely astonishing to me is the fact that even many fans of the band like him, but seem to gloss over a lot of his wonderful nuances. It's a real pity that he never really did get the regards he deserves.

    18 May 9:24pm Reply
  • mellohippo

    There's simply no SP without Jimmy. You can't force shit but damn.

    18 May 6:53am Reply
  • infernalights

    Saw Iha playing with APC and I should say that it sound much better than Billy recently!

    16 May 4:05am Reply
  • eternalmew

    i would really cry from happiness if the new album from smashing pumpkins is anything close to mellon collie

    12 May 4:02pm Reply
  • Groves89

    I only started liking Adore recently. The production on some of the tracks like Appels + Oranjes sounds cheesy but I'm convinced tracks like Annie Dog and For Martha are some of their best.

    10 May 11:16pm Reply
  • liano1

    :3

    10 May 5:05am Reply
  • dreamelectric

    They were so amazing last night.

    9 May 10:47pm Reply
  • sunheadbowed

    punk rock?

    9 May 7:14am Reply
  • jhansennueve

    Soothe

    8 May 8:22am Reply
  • neezinu

    combination of shoegaze/ dream pop/ grunge/ punk rock. :D love 'em!

    4 May 5:58am Reply
  • rockowa_

    Farewell and Goodnight is so perfect

    1 May 10:59pm Reply
  • donotcurseatme

    Love the new main. One of my all-time favorite band pics. The only drawback is Jimmy couldn't be in it.

    30 Apr 11:11pm Reply
  • rhondabowlin

    Their 90's albums are magnificent. [2] Aye <3

    29 Apr 6:11am Reply
  • rhondabowlin

    Billy's so vile nowadays that he may have retroactively contaminated my love of the old REAL SP. :( Sadness from a previously obsessed fan haha! #firstworldproblems

    29 Apr 6:10am Reply
  • Cabrasevera

    Whale wars lol

    26 Apr 2:18am Reply
  • Yellowxander

    the Smahing Pumpkins tour update: http://metaltalk.net/news2012-2/2012784.php

    25 Apr 9:54am Reply
  • makavelipau

    Looking forward to May 15th @ Bayou Music Center!

    21 Apr 1:51pm Reply
  • metal_gimp

    loving Gish right now...

    20 Apr 4:55pm Reply
  • Mathias_705

    Sweden in July <3

    19 Apr 10:09pm Reply
  • laryoverkill

    AVA ADORE IS SO SO SO ...♥♥

    19 Apr 9:25pm Reply
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