| Smashing pumkins are one of the major alternative rock bands of the 1990's. Led by Billy Corgan, the band mixed psychedelic rock and alternative rock with heavy metal. Corgan maintained however, that good music defied the boundries of any particular genre. The Smashing Pumpkins formed when frontman Billy Corgan began colaborating with friend and coworker James Iha. D'archy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin came later and the band devised the name Smashing Pumpkins. The band name was almost as unique as they were. They were all skilled in their instruments and brought a unique sound out when they played together. |
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| and Alice In Chains had seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth and Soundgarden had yet to release Superunknown which would make them so popular. Therefore, the next Alternative Rock Mega Band in line to lead the big tour was Smashing Pumpkins. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, released after the tour in 1994, was a daring double album which proved that Smashing Pumpkins was a in a different style independent of grunge. It contained many of their most popular songs including 1979, Tonight Tonigh, Zero, and Bullets With Butterfly Wings. In 1996 the drummer was thrown out due to drug related problems but returned later in 2000. Also the D'archy Wretzky was replaced by the former bassist of Hole, Mellisa Auf Der Maur. -- This is interesting since Hole's Lead singer (Courtney Love) used to go out with Cogan. During the tour of their fifth album, Machina: The Machines Of God, Corgan broke the news that the band would break up after they had honored their tour commitments (RollingStone.com). |
| Their debut record, Gish, which has now sold over 10 million copies (RollingStone.com) would later help to bring about a change in popular music. When grunge broke out of Seatlle in late 1991, the bands audience grew and by 1992 they were considered a huge success. In 1993 Siamese Dream was released. It included a wider variety of song styles. Best of all, it was original (unlike today's music--mostly crap). Then came the Lollapalooza tour in 1994. Originally the tour was to be headlined by the then infamous Nirvana for a sum of aproximatly seven million dollars, but Kurt was burned out. By early 94', Cobain was tired of touring and declined several offers. Pearl Jam |
| - Alice In Chains - Black Sabbath - Doors, The - Green River - Led Zeppelin - Mudhoney - Metallica - Nirvana - Pearl Jam - Screaming Trees - Smashing Pumpkins - Sonic Youth - Soundgarden - Temple Of The Dog |