www.smashingpumpkins.com
Billy Corgan - Vocals/Guitar
Jimmy Chamberlain - Drums
Jeff Schroeder - Guitar
Ginger Reyes - Bass
Okay this is extremely sad. I know this board is divided in its opinion of the Smashing Pumpkins, but the Pumpkins were for many of us (including myself) the gateway to a whole other different musical world. They were the first mainstream band to show us things could be different. For me as a 14 year old they were the first band I ever loved. I eventually out grew them and moved on. But I still remember the drunken nights (and mornings) crashed out on the floor listening to Siamise Dream and thinking it was the greatest album ever made. As such for many of us the Pumpkins represent hanging out with friends, youth and hazy romantic memories. Why is this important?
As we all know the band got worse and worse, slowly becoming a shadow of its former self and rightly broke up. Luckily enough time has gone by since then to reflect on their work. Sure they had their pathy moments. But few would deny Gish and Siamise Dream's place in alternative rock's history. Hell even Mellon Collie and all that Zero shit was great if only for how cool it all looked.
What i'm trying to say is that the Pumpkins image is forever planted in our heads. Its more important for some than the music. The Pumpkins will always be Billy looking moody, James looking Cool and D'arcy being hot. The Pumpkins died in 2000. This new band calling itself the Smashing Pumpkins can never be the same. Why can't bands let a good thing die?
Billy has every right to continue of course, I understand the Pumpkins still represents to him what they maybe once represented for us. Its gonna be strange hearing all the kids taking about the Pumpkins and they probebly will have never heard of James Iha and D'arcy Wretsky.