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Although lumped right in with the early-'90s "alternative" music genre, Chicago's Smashing Pumpkins have proven the antithesis
to the D.I.Y./indie ethos, with the often-bombastic production and overblown-ness of works like their 140-minute, string-laden
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (certified platinum eight times over). The brainchild of singer/guitarist/producer Billy Corgan, the Pumpkins are currently
one of the most popular rock acts in America.
The band, at the time consisting of Corgan, bassist D'Arcy Wretzky (the blonde object of many an indie-boy crush), guitarist
James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, became well-known after their 1991 debut, Gish--although Corgan actually played most of the instruments on this, as well as on their other releases. Their next album,
1993's Siamese Dream, on major label Virgin, propelled the band into superstar status by selling over four million copies, and, the following
year, they nabbed the top spot at Lollapalooza after planned headliners Nirvana dropped out. The band's only personnel change took place in 1996, when longtime drug user Chamberlin was fired after he was
found with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin when the latter fatally overdosed. Chamberlin's replacement was Matt Walker,
formerly of Filter.
Corgan has claimed that Mellon will be the last Pumpkins album with their signature guitar sound, and that they
will be heading into a more electronic direction--which isn't contradicted by his synthy solo track on the Lost Highway soundtrack, "Eye." In mid-'97, the Smashing Pumpkins have a featured track, "The End Is The Beginning Of The End," on
the Batman & Robin soundtrack.
This Biography was written by Mara Schwartz |
