The Smashing Pumpkins
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“ Who?”
~ Billy Corgan on James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky and Jimmy Chamberlin
“ Teacher. Brother. Secret lover.”
~ Billy Corgan on Jimmy Chamberlin
“ I'm in the what now?”
~ Jimmy Chamberlin on The Smashing Pumpkins
“ This band is the shit!!!”
~ Smashing Pumpkins fan at 1997 Concert
“ What is this shit????”
~ Smashing Pumpkins fan at 2007 Concert
“ You egotistical son of a bitch!”
~ Bono on Billy Corgan
The Smashing Pumpkin is Billy Corgan, an American songwriter, bassist, guitarist, drummer, pianist, saxophone player, violinist, computer programmer, oboe player, and the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
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[edit] History
The Smashing Pumpkins were founded in Chicago in 1988 by Billy Corgan. The act started when Corgan wanted to start a band and found a bunch of chumps willing to do what he told them to do. The Bands name refers to how great Billy Corgan is (Pumpkin meaning "bald head" and smashing meaning "really cool". Billy knew he would be bald before he even started losing his hair due to his precognitive god-like senses.) Corgan was the lead singer; Corgan and some Asian man-child both played guitar, while Yamaha RY30 Drum Machine was their first drummer.The early Pumpkins sound is often described as "really f-ing creepy." Oddly, and despite the fact that the entire band were on stage, it still appeared to baffled audience members at Pumpkins' shows as if Corgan was actually playing all the guitar and bass parts by himself, a phenomenon which has hitherto gone unexplained.
While attempting to promote the Pumpkins' Gothic sounds at a rally commemorating the birth of David Bowie, Billy Corgan got into an argument about the hunkyness of Bill Cosby with a young woman named D'arcy. During their argument, D'arcy let slip that she played guitar. A goofy smile split open Corgan's pale, dough-like face; he immediately asked D'ary why there was an apostrophe in her name. He then asked if she would play bass in their band. Despite an awful try-out and her stated inability to form full sentences, he realized that the girl looked good on stage and would attract female fans (usually at the impressionable early stages of puberty). Thus the Smashing Pumpkins were born.
The next step in the band's evolution was the firing of Yamaha RY30 Drum Machine (who continued on as a roadie) and the hiring of Billy's pet human, Jimmy Chamberlain (also known as JC Chasez) as their new permanent drummer. Unfortunately, JC's heroin addiction almost meant the end of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Throughout their career the Smashing Pumpkins experimented with many different styles: shoegazer, psychedelia, heavy metal, power pop, glam, and even electronica. During their most successful period, the Pumpkins released their mega hits 'The Greatest Day I've Ever Known', The Killer in Me', 'Rat in a Cage (The World is a Vampire)' and 'I Don't Even Care'. Even as Corgan lost his hair (as prophesied) and engaged in transvestism (see 'The Everlasting Gays'), Asian dude made a really terrible solo album, and touring keyboardist Herman Munster died while shooting up with JC, still the Pumpkins persevered. However, after the departure of D'arcy (who dwindled from the public eye and now is a masseur on a private island with a pet unicorn), and shortly after his heavily publicized attempt to rewrite 'Rat in a Cage' as 'Monkey from a Fucking Wire' proved to be yet another critical and commercial failure, Corgan declared his heart just wasn't in it anymore, and turned his domed cranium in the direction of other pursuits. During this period he released his exhaustively researched thesis on flight, which made one of the biggest breakthroughs of the decade when it concluded "the aeroplane flies high." The aviation industry awarded him the Pulitzer prize for this startling insight, but as they had no influence over the Pulitzer prize jury he never received it.
In 2000, the Pumpkins broke up after Corgan discovered the 'other' use for Gerbils, and hence had nothing left to whine about. In late 2001, Corgan immediately formed a new Christian rock band - Zwan - that featured JC and David Pajo, the guitarist from Slint. "Slint is the most terrifying thing I've ever heard," said Corgan. "Not half as terrifying as Guided By Voices," said guitarist Matt Sweeney, who suffers from Post- Bob Pollard Stress Disorder (PBPSD). Their album was released to mixed reviews, and soon Corgan broke up his new band as well. Matt Sweeney, driven mad by this new experience, did something with Will Oldham, that has long since been forgotten to the long channels of history.
Shortly afterwards, the band broke up, citing a general decline in faked teenage angst as the primary reason. Corgan has been quoted as saying: 'The kids just aren't into it anymore. I mean, it's really hard to pretend that you're still 25, especially now that I realise my life is actually rather good. I'm declaring an official end to my nasal whining... for now'.
In 2005, Corgan announced he will be reunifying the Smashing Pumpkins, though since making this announcement no one has seen or heard of him. Some say he released a solo album, but only a small number of people seemed to have heard it, many of them clearly insane as shown by their ramblings in public about the "future" and terrible British indie band Embrace.
In 2006, the band reformed in the electronic medium to produce an indie-rock-mystical-enchantment album under the name Two Gallants and as of yet have been able to sell one copy to the 1337 fans on Netpooria.
Corgan is currently working on the new album which is said to be very heavy, around the weight of forty elephants. Rumours about the new line-up abound though the common consensus is that there are no others, and Corgan is merely pretending. What a douche.
[edit] Newgeist
“And you think I sold out quickly?”
~ Bob Dylan on Smashing Pumpkins Releasing Newgeist
After one Electronic-double-concept-album too many, the hits started to dry up for the Pumpkins. Corgan needed money to pay off his gambling debts, so he decided to reform the Pumpkins for one last payday. The band returned to the studio in March 2007. They emerged 15 minutes later, having written, arranged, recorded, produced and marketed their magnum opus, Newgeist. The album, heralded as "Sgt. Pepper's meets Pet Sounds - for the iPod generation!" was released to a frosty reception. After poor initial sales, the Pumpkins cut a deal with McDonald's and copies of the album were given away free with Happy Meals throughout June 2007. This technically made Newgeist the biggest selling album of all-time and put the seal on a remarkable comeback for the Chicago posers. A sell-out tour followed for the sell-out band. A delighted Corgan remarked: "We sold-out quicker than Metallica!" Sadly, their wish of selling out quicker then KISS was not achieved due to an army of 3-year-old's being sent to viscously gum the action figures and commemorative cups/mugs.
In 2008, Corgan announced that after the disappointment of Newgeist and the last tour where that one guy kept on yelling "PLAY '1979'", the Smashing Pumpkins' primary focus is now to release commercials. Corgan worked feverishly on a Toyota Superbowl commercial and a Visa "Win What you Buy" radio ad. He says that 444 new commercials are on the way for Taco Bell and will debut during American Idol.
In 2009, JC announced he was leaving the Pumpkins, stating"I'm sick and tired of TV commercials. The real ones are on billboards. When you get stopped at a red light, you have to read those." Billy Corgan now must not only play bass, guiter, 2nd guitar, violin and cello, he must also play drums at the same time.
Later in the year, Billy Corgan started a cult website. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Oh, ha-ha-ha, ain't Uncyclopedia wacky with it's making of jokes." But, seriously, Corgan actually started a fucking cult website!
[edit] Cultural Impact
Smashing Pumpkins is now the favoured sport of many countries in the world. It is invigorating, satisfying and, unlike most sports, results in soup. For other bands with culinary impact, see the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mudhoney and Meatloaf.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
[edit] Fish (1991)
- I Am Won
- Rhinocepotamus
- Orange Crush
- Window Pain (As in being hit by a window.)
[edit] Siamese Cat (1993)
- Today is the Greatest Day
- Shh, I'm sleeping
- Miracle Whip
- Killer In Me (is the Killer in You)
- Dork America
[edit] Pisces Is Carrot... (1994)
- Smoothie
- Snail and Bedazzler
- Piss on
- Harlot
[edit] Mellow Drama & the Self-Indulgent Pretentiousness(1995)
- The World is a Vampire (Rat in a Cage)
- Where Boys Don't Generally Like to Go
- God is Empty (Just like MEEEE)
- Screw You (An Ode to Nobody In Particular)
- We Prefer to Come Out When the Sun Goes Down
- Ex, Why You?
- Piss Off and Good Riddens
- Now I'm Gonna Shave My Head And Wear That Zero T-shirt To Every F***ing Photoshoot
[edit] A Door (1998)
- Ava, A Whore.
- Any Bong?
- Hug A Pug
- I'm Lonely Because I Fired Everybody
[edit] Micromachines (2000)
- The Everlasting Gays
- Who Wouldn't Stand Inside Your Door?
- Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try
[edit] Micromachines II/The Friends and Enemies of Hot Wheels (2000)
- Hot Wheels, Beat That!
- Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try (Even Harder)
- Cheers for Hiroshima
[edit] Shitegeist (2007)
- Hit Me, Baby, One More Time
- Love Shack
- Genie in a Bottle
- We Are the Real (As Real as any Ghost)
- United States of Whatever
- (Girl's Gotta Have a) Corgasm
- I'm Still Making Music, But Why?
[edit] Compilations and EPs
- LOL (1991)
- Meth Session (1992)
- Judas Christ Superstar (1994)
- Audiophilia (1994) (Promo)
- Piles of Shit (Greatest Hits)/Judas Christ Superstar II (2001)
- 114 Songs You Won't Care About (2005)
- Arabian Gingerhead (2008)
- It's My Goddamn Band (2010)
