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The Smashing Pumpkins: 1989-2000
May 23, 2000, 2:30 pm PT
Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan called into Los Angeles radio station
KROQ on Tuesday (May 23) afternoon and announced the band's demise.
"We thought about telling people right when [MACHINA/the machines
of God] was going to come out, but then we thought it would be all about
that and not about the music," said Corgan. "But now that the album is out,
it's fine. We wanted to make one more album to leave things on a positive
note."
The band will finish its current U.S. tour, head to Europe, Japan, Canada,
and maybe South America before the end of the year and then that's it (a
final U.S. tour is possible as well). The Pumpkins will tape VH1
Storytellers in August, and an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay
Leno is scheduled as well. Corgan said that fans can expect more releases
from the Pumpkins as well. "We have another album's worth of songs left
over from MACHINA we're gonna try to finish starting in July. We also
might do some additional live recordings," he told KROQ.
"It is a weight lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I've been walking around
with this weird secret. I think deep down our fans really knew that this was
the end," said Corgan. "If you really listen to the album, it's in the album.
We brought this thing to what we felt was a really strong conclusion and
it freed us to enjoy it."
During Corgan's radio announcement, fans were calling in in tears and
talking with the singer, who has touched millions since the band's humble
beginnings in Chicago in 1989. When one caller expressed her sadness over
the breakup, Corgan said, "I'd rather look at it as an accomplishment of
hanging in there and making some great music ... If you think about all
the positive things, all the good things, it's not sad."
Over the past year, the band has been plagued with shake-ups and lawsuits
(original bassist D'Arcy Wretzky left the band last September [allstar, Sept.
9, 1999]; the band was dumped by its management in January [allstar, Jan
12]), so the announcement shouldn't present too much of a shock to fans.
As for future plans, Corgan reports that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin would
really like to race cars, guitarist James Iha would like to continue making
music, and Corgan isn't sure what he wants to do. "I'm lucky because at least
in my personal situation, I can do whatever I want to do. Now whether or
not I can do them well or anybody cares is another question. It's been 13 years
but who I am on the other side of that, I don’t know."
"It's about completing the circle and leaving things on a positive note," said
Corgan. "We have really enjoyed this year -- more so than any other year that
we've ever been a band. That's about it. It's about leaving everybody with a
nice kiss and one more swing."
-- Kevin Raub
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