LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-MARCH 17, 2020…HAPPY 53RD BIRTHDAY TO BILLY CORGAN OF THE SMASHING PUMPKINS. CORGAN IS THE LEAD SINGER, SONGWRITER, GUITARIST AND THE SOLE PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE SMASHING PUMPKINS. CORGAN AND GUITARIST JAMES IHA FORMED THE PUMPKINS IN 1988. CORGAN MET BASSIST D’ARCY WRETZKY THEY GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT IN A BAR. HE JOINED THE BAND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THEY PLAYED AS A THREE PIECE WITH A DRUM MACHINE, UNTIL THEY ADDED JIMMY CHAMBERLIN ON DRUMS AFTER HE ANSWERED AN AD IN THE PAPER.
HERE IS SOME SMASHING PUMPKINS AND BILLY CORGAN TRIVIA:
-THE PUMPKINS PLAYED THEIR FIRST GIG OPENING FOR JANES ADDICTION, AND WERE QUICKLY SIGNED TO A RECORD DEAL WITH VIRGIN RECORDS.
-CORGAN IS A NOTORIOUS PERFECTIONIST. HE PLAYED ALL THE INSTRUMENTS ON ‘SIAMESE DREAM’ HIMSELF, ALTHOUGH HIS BAND RECEIVED FULL CREDIT
-INTERNAL FIGHTING AND DRUG USE LED TO A BREAK-UP OF THE GROUP IN 2000.
-CORGAN HARDLY EVER PLAYS ANY OF HIS OLD SONGS. AFTER THE SMASHING PUMPKINS BROKE UP, HE WENT AT LEAST 4 YEARS WITHOUT PLAYING ANY OF THEIR SONGS.
-THE SMASHING PUMPKINS SOLD OVER 30 MILLION RECORDS WORLDWIDE IN THE 1990’S
HERE’S BILLY WITH THE PUMPKINS WITH ‘BULLET WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS’
photo thanks-Rafael da Silva Silva