Billy Corgan has pushed back Smashing Pumpkins’ tour honoring the band’s first full-length, the 1991 album Gish, to “distant 2009” in order to focus on two things: A tour of smaller-sized venues next month which will stop at a casino in Hammond, Ind., among other places in the lower 48 states; and a smattering of shows this November that will “focus on the band’s history, legacy, and accomplishments over their career” and will be billed as a 20th-anniversary tour. Which I guess makes the Gish tour an 18th-anniversary tour? Oh man, does this mean I have to send him something porcelain and something platinum? I hope he’s registered somewhere, at least!
According to a post on the Smashing Pumpkins’ official site, “plans are currently underway that will lead to the eventual release of a pre-Gish/Gish box set.” While I welcome any excuse to replace my scratched-to-hell disc from 17 years ago, I’m guessing that Billy Corgan’s motivations are a little more devious; delving into his back catalogue will probably produce sales results that are, at the very least, better than those achieved by Zeitgeist. (Although if he remakes any of the videos with certain brain-dead heiresses playing the role of James Iha, I am out.) But wait, there’s another way for Corgan to get the money out of his band’s Gish-era fanbase, who presumably on average have higher earning power than they did back in ’91:
The producers of Bands Go Pop! want to provide physical training, cosmetics and even cosmetic surgery for “bands who provided the soundtrack to our youth but who now for whatever reason no longer look like the poster picture that once adorned the walls of the nations teenagers.” According to Popbitch, they naturally decided to offer their services to St. Etienne, who understandably declined. Still, I hope the producers aren’t too dismayed by this cold shoulder. Judging by the recent actions of once defiant bands like R.E.M. and Metallica, plenty of artists will take any measures necessary to attempt to reclaim their former glory. We’ve got some recommendations.
After lots of delays, Courtney Love is seemingly ready to start rehearsing for the recording of her new album and its subsequent tour. But she needs a bass player, and so she’s turned her MySpace blog into her own personal Craigslist because the dude she wanted originally, who, uh, worked with Plant/Page, is currently on tour with Goldfrapp. Are you that man? I ask if you’re that man because she doesn’t want a chick bass player for reasons that she’s keeping secret. (I’m hoping that it has something to do with the way the “chick bassist” went from trope to joke during the last decade’s alt-rock boom of 10 years ago, but I fully expect to be disappointed.) If you feel like applying, the ad–complete with suggested musical influences–is after the jump!
From Popbitch: “Smashing Pumpkins have just done a show in Australia for MTV. Singer Billy Corgan requested for his rider a defibrillator and an ambulance. And crew claim they weren’t allowed to walk in his line of sight while he was playing.” More »
Weiland, the estranged singer of Velvet Revolver, has teamed up with members of Army Of Anyone and Bomb Shelter Studios owner Eric Kretz for a tour that will hit more than 50 amphitheaters this summer and fall. And this isn’t the only unexpected supergroup that’s formed from music’s bigger names over the years–other groups have also embarked on tours, while a few have even released albums. Other examples after the jump.
Well, now you’ve done it, Virgin Records. You’ve crossed Billy Corgan and the pride he takes in his creative endeavors. The Smashing Pumpkins as an entity (which I like to imagine is Corgan and a old typewriter) are suing their label for breach of contract filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. More »
A middling revamp of Smashing Pumpkins’ middling “return to form” Zeitgeist hits the shelves tomorrow as Reprise tries to tempt fans into re-purchasing a mediocre album with the promise of “a full-length DVD documentary titled Inside The Zeitgeist” and a handful of bonus tracks–the sixth Zeitgeist “upgrade” for anyone still keeping count. As he desperately tries to make up for sluggish sales and reviews, Corgan’s probably down to banking on support from longtime fanatics, like these poor souls who have already had a taste of the Pumpkins-flavored Kool-Aid.
His attempt at recapturing the zeitgeist has been met with a collective lack of attention from those people who still buy records, so what can Billy Corgan do to get his name back in the news? More »
Good morning, Idolator faithful. I’m Paul, but you may know me as brasstax. I’m not a “journalist” or a “critic,” so go ahead and engage your disappointment (or elation) sensors right now. I’ll be here all day. More importantly, though, it’s finally July 10–a huuuge new record release day! More »
