Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago in 1988. The band's original lineup consisted of Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar), James Iha (guitar), D'arcy Wretzky (bass), and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums).
The band's debut album, Gish, was released in 1991 and received critical acclaim for its unique blend of heavy metal, psychedelic rock, and alternative rock. Their second album, Siamese Dream (1993), was even more successful and included hit singles like "Today" and "Disarm."
Smashing Pumpkins reached new heights of fame and success with their third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995), a double album that sold over 10 million copies worldwide. The album included hit singles like "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and "1979," and earned the band seven Grammy Award nominations.
After the release of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, tensions began to rise within the band. Wretzky left the band in 1999 and was replaced by Melissa Auf der Maur for the band's fourth album, Adore (1998). The album marked a departure from the band's earlier sound, incorporating electronic and ambient elements.
The band's next two albums, Machina/The Machines of God (2000) and Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music (2000), were intended to be part of a larger concept album that was never fully realized. The band announced a breakup in 2000.
However, in 2005, Corgan announced that he would be reforming Smashing Pumpkins with Chamberlin and a new lineup. The band's fifth album, Zeitgeist (2007), was released to mixed reviews but was still a commercial success. The band has continued to release albums in the years since, including Oceania (2012), Monuments to an Elegy (2014), Cyr (2020), and Atum (2023).
