Few bands have left as deep a scar on the alternative, emo, and pop-punk space as The Smashing Pumpkins have. Through frontman Billy Corgan’s uniquely gruff vocal snarl, melancholic grandeur, and wall-of-distortion, they’ve shaped not only the ‘90s alt-rock space but have embedded their DNA into the next two decades of rock music. Their influence rippled through everything from My Chemical Romance, who have praised them as a major influence, to AFI and The Used.
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The Smashing Pumpkins’ catalog continues to transcend eras and genres. From a viral Drumeo episode featuring a Cirque du Soleil drummer dissecting Jimmy Chamberlin’s jazz-inspired technique to Panic! At The Disco’s cover of “Tonight, Tonight” finding new life on TikTok following the release of their “Live In Denver” performance, the band’s influence refuses to fade. Here are eight artists who’ve covered The Smashing Pumpkins—and done them justice.
Panic! At The Disco — “Tonight, Tonight”
At the height of their baroque-pop takeover in the mid-2000s, Panic! At The Disco gave “Tonight, Tonight” a glam-soaked revival. Brendon Urie’s soaring vocals and lush instrumentation turned the Pumpkins’ original into something theatrical. Nearly two decades later, the cover is getting a second life thanks to the band’s newly released “Live In Denver” video—reminding fans just how perfectly PATD bridged the world between vaudeville pop and grunge romanticism.
The Killers — “Disarm”
Filmed during their 2017 set at Lollapalooza, The Killers’ brief but stunning take on “Disarm” captures the raw ache of the original. Brandon Flowers’ trembling vocals mirror Corgan’s fragile delivery, while the band glides effortlessly through the song’s rises and falls. It’s only a sliver of a cover, but one so powerful that fans have been pleading for a full version ever since.
Evanescence — “Zero”
Filmed live at Rock am Ring in 2004, Evanescence’s take on “Zero” is both ferocious and empowering. Between verses and moments of silence, frontwoman Amy Lee calls out to the women in the crowd, urging more of them to take the stage and make rock music their own. Her powerhouse vocals cut through the track with precision, transforming the Smashing Pumpkins’ classic into a declaration of strength and self-possession.
Thrice — “1979”
Filmed at the SiriusXM Studios as part of their live cover series—which has hosted everyone from Chris Cornell of Soundgarden to Simple Plan—Thrice deliver a stripped-down, acoustic version of “1979” that trades lush production for intimacy. Frontman Dustin Kensrue’s weathered vocal tone carries the song with quiet restraint until the chorus, when he pushes into those gravelly, aching highs that define his voice. Around the two-minute mark, delicate vocal harmonies bloom beneath him, turning the moment into something quietly transcendent.
Tegan and Sara — “Today”
While many artists have tackled “Today,” few have reimagined it quite like Tegan and Sara. Their signature back-and-forth vocals and harmonies turn the song’s bittersweet flow into something entirely their own—an airy, heartfelt reflection rather than an angst-fueled outcry. The duo’s version found new life when it was featured in the trailer for Amazon Freevee’s High School.
Poison The Well — “Today”
Recorded back in 2001 for a split album titled 7 that never officially dropped, Poison The Well’s unreleased cover of “Today” has since become something of an underground legend. Circulating only on YouTube, the track reimagines the Smashing Pumpkins classic through the lens of early-2000s metalcore. Fans have long hailed it as one of the most powerful metalcore renditions of the song, perfectly aligned with the band’s debut era.
Bad Rabbits — “1979”
Bad Rabbits bring a sleek new vibe to “1979,” layering smooth synths and R&B flair over the Pumpkins’ nostalgic track. They honor the original while making it unmistakably their own, with mesmerizing falsetto notes and lush harmonies elevating the song’s climax.
My Chemical Romance — “Bullet (With Butterfly Wings)”
When My Chemical Romance first debuted their cover of “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” in San Francisco, it was already a full-circle moment—emo’s torchbearers paying homage to one of their greatest influences. But when they brought it to Chicago, the performance took on legendary status. Billy Corgan himself joined Gerard Way and co. onstage, turning the Smashing Pumpkins’ hometown into a generational crossroads of angst and artistry.
Watching Corgan and Way share a mic felt almost mythic—the teacher and the student, though those roles blur more every year. Fans joked (as they often do) about their father-and-son rumprs that have entangled their relationship, but the truth is, few rock pairings feel this natural. At this point, all that’s left to say is simple: we need a Billy Corgan x My Chemical Romance collaboration—sooner rather than later, please.
