Biography

1988 In Chicago, IL, a small record store employed a young man by the name of Billy Corgan. He met a student at Chicago's Loyola University, where he showed interest as an artist. Billy Corgan met this student (who happened to be named James Iha) and formed a band. They made their debut gig at a bar, where Corgan played bass, and a drum machine kept the beat. After the bar gig, Corgan got into heated argument about a band, with a woman named D'arcy. During the argument, Corgan discovered that she played bass. Corgan, probably hating playing bass, asked her to join the band. And so it was, and it still is.

After the trio started getting attention, they were booked to open for Jane's Addiction, with the condition they got a real drummer. Enter Jimmy Chamberlin.

During the tour for their double-cd album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,(which has since won numerous awards, and HUGE media attention, not to mention 7 Grammy awards) the keyboardist was killed in an overdose of heroin administered by Jimmy Chamberlin. All of the members were taken in for questioning, and Jimmy was taken under custody. Because of his history of drug-abuse, the current touring situation, and the death of the tour member, the Pumpkins decided to fire Chamberlin, and session for a new drummer. Filter's drummer was chosen, rehearsed, and the tour staggered back to life.

The Smashing Pumpkins' most recent release has been The Aeroplane Flies High, (which is tabbed here) which is a five-cd set of all Mellon Collie singles, plus all kinds of unreleased tracks. IF YOU ARE A PUMPKIN FAN, DO NOT PASS THIS UP! It is incredible. Buy it. Thank you.