SMASHING PUMPKINS BIOGRAPHY

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Smashing Pumpkins

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Smashing Pumpkins Biography

Compared to many of their contemporaries, they were less punk-influenced.
They showcased thickly layered, guitar heavy sounds with rudiments of heavy metal, psychedelic rock, power pop, shoegazer-style production and even electronica (as seen in their later recordings). The Smashing Pumpkins that came into existence in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois had metamorphosed into very influential American alternative rock band, in their due course of existence. Their original lineup had Billy Corgan on guitar and vocals, James Iha on guitar, D'arcy Wretzky on bass and Jimmy Chamberlin on drums.

At the age of 19, singer-guitarist Billy Corgan left his homeland Chicago, Illinois, for Petersburg, Florida along with his Goth band The Marked. Finding moderate success, the band was quickly dissolved. Corgan returned and started working in a record store, where he met guitarist James Iha. Both started writing songs with the help of a drum machine. Corgan met bassist D'arcy Wretzky in 1988 and he was soon invited to join the team, which had by then taken the name Smashing Pumpkins. Jazz drummer Jimmy Chamberlin also was brought in, when Cabaret Metro owner Joe Shanahan informed them his wish to book the Pumpkins, on condition that they kept a human drummer instead of a drum machine.

In 1989, after making a number of demo tapes, they released their first record, "I Am One", a limited edition single that came out in 1990 on local Chicago label Limited Potential. Next they signed to Virgin Records and released another single, "Tristessa" on Sub Pop Records. In 1991 they cut their debut album Gish in Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. During their Gish tour, Iha and Wretzky went through a disturbed relationship. Chamberlin got lured to drugs and alcohol, and Corgan plunged into a deep depression. To overcome his blues, Corgan worked overtime and wrote songs. Writers� block bugged Corgin, while he was writing for their 1993 release �Siamese Dreams�. The album sold 4 million copies in the US, and the videos received an exhaustive airplay, bringing them international reputation.

Following this, came the release of a double-disc (triple on vinyl) album namely Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. It gave out a bunch of 28 songs that would last over 2 hours. Mellon Collie outclassed Siamese Dream, and sold over 16 million copies worldwide, and even grabbed 7 Grammy Award nominations (1996). On July 12, 1996, while on tour, the keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died, and Chamberlin was booked for drug possession. Chamberlin was subsequently chucked out though he was later rehired.

Pumpkin�s 1998's Adore was a departure from their former guitar based rock. The genre with a heavier mood could be seen sauntering into electronica. In spite of the fact that the album received comforting reviews and was nominated for the Grammys (Best Alternative Performance), the album made a sale of only 3 million copies. Now, 2000's �MACHINA/The Machines of God� marked the return of Jimmy Chamberlin. Around this time, Bass player Wretzky left and former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur was appointed in that place.

On May 23, 2000 Billy Corgan hinted the possible break up of the Pumpkins at the yearend. Their final album, MACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, came out in September 2000. On December 2, 2000, at The Metro, the same Chicago club where they had all begun 12 years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins call it a day after the performance. The single, "Untitled", their last commercial recording was released, coinciding with the final show.

Corgan and Chamberlin reunited in 2001 for the former's projects, the shortlived Zwan and Mary Star of the Sea (their only album). In 2003, Corgan announced the termination of the band. But on the day (June 21, 2005) of the release of Corgan's album TheFutureEmbrace, he gave a full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune newspaper, expressing his wish to regroup and retool The Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan said there, "For a year now, "I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams..."