Search Results for: smashing pumpkins

Former Smashing Pumpkins/Zwan leader Billy Corgan has begun work on his solo debut, according to posts by the artist on his official Web site (http://www.billycorgan.com). “I am excited to work on this music, because for the first time in my life it will be my tunes with no compromises to anyone or anything,” he writes. “It’s gonna be loud and beautiful and poetic and dumb. Just the way I like it.” While Corgan will be guiding the project, he alluded to participation from other artists. “I come in with no songs but maybe one or two, no lyrics, no band… Read more »

A Perfect Circle, described by Rolling Stone as “that rare supergroup… of veteran musicians that actually adds up to more, not less, than the sum of its parts,” announces their next round of concert dates and releases their much- anticipated second album in stores today, THIRTEENTH STEP, propelled by its first single, “Weak and Powerless.” The song has jumped to #3 Alternative and #7 Active Rock on both the Mediabase and BDS charts. The countdown now begins toward the first leg of A Perfect Circle’s 2003 arena tour, opening on Halloween in San Antonio (please see initial dates below in… Read more »

Well, we can’t say we’re surprised. Billy Corgan has reportedly broken up his new alt.rock supergroup Zwan after releasing only one album. Corgan appeared on Chicago’s WGN-Channel 9 news program this morning (September 15) to chat with the talking heads and announce that he’s closed the door on Zwan. He claimed that he just wasn’t feeling the Zwan passion in the same way he did with his old band The Smashing Pumpkins. “My heart was in Smashing Pumpkins,” a surprisingly jovial looking Corgan said. “I really enjoyed my experience with Zwan, but at the end of the day, without that… Read more »

“You may know this song,” Evanescence singer Amy Lee uttered demurely nine songs into the group’s headlining set Tuesday night at the Congress Theatre. “It’s the song that got us here.” Understatement of the year. Without “Bring Me to Life,” the ubiquitous rap-rock confection featured on Fallen, the Little Rock, Arkansas, troupe would be far more concerned finding people who can pronounce “Evanescence” than finding wall space for their double-platinum album. Now, only five months after the release of Fallen, Evanescence are headlining the Nintendo Fusion Tour, a 20-date excursion that has the band performing after Cold, the group that’s… Read more »

On the heels of last year’s smash No. 1 hit, the JXL remix of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation,” BMG/RCA is set to release a remix of Presley’s Rubberneckin’ as a commercial single on September 9 and to radio August 25. The single has been remixed by DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold – one of the most acclaimed remixers in the music business – and will appear on ELVIS 2ND TO NONE, a follow-up to last year’s highly successful “ELV1S 30 #1 HITS.” This newest compilation, scheduled for release on October 7, will also include five additional Presley #1… Read more »

When former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha got an email a month ago from A Perfect Circle’s Billy Howerdel asking if he’d like to audition for the group, the last thing on Iha’s mind was joining another band. “I really didn’t see myself joining another band too soon after the Pumpkins broke up,” said Iha, who has kept a low profile since the Pumpkins’ December 2000 split. “I was recently saying to someone that it would have to be a pretty good band to bring me back – this is the band.” Iha was also reluctant to hit the road… Read more »

With little pomp and no showboating, A Perfect Circle were all about the music in the first headlining performance in support of their upcoming album, Thirteenth Step. That shouldn’t surprise any APC fans or those familiar with shows by singer Maynard James Keenan’s other band, Tool. Never once did he holler, “Hello, New York” – in fact, he jokingly made a reference to New Jersey – nor did he ask if fans were ready to rock. It didn’t matter. He obviously was. And so were his bandmates, who took the stage in formation: guitarist Billy Howerdel at the front of… Read more »

Zwan has canceled its entire world tour, due to what the band termed “family reasons” on its official website, zwan.com. The canceled tour was to start in Imola, Italy on June 15, and end at the famed Fuji Festival in Japan on January 25. Glastonbury, T In The Park, and the Witnness Festival were among the European festivals Zwan will miss. The band is touring in support of its debut album, Mary Star Of The Sea, and it features former Smashing Pumpkins members Billy Corgan on guitar and vocals and Jimmy Chamberlin on drums. Also in the band are ex-Tortoise… Read more »

The reasons why longtime underground rock act AFI signed with major label DreamWorks aren’t surprising – bigger video budgets, global distribution, press machine. However, drummer Adam Carson tells Billboard.com it’s what the band doesn’t partake in that defines the musically intense outfit. “We wanted to make sure we were in bed with a company we felt good about, to make sure there were no surprises, make sure that everyone was working for us, and we approved of the way they go about doing their work,” says Carson. “And maybe, more so than other bands, instead of taking the free drinks… Read more »

From rampaging bikers at the Rolling Stones’ infamous Altamont show in 1969 to deadly stampedes by fans of the Who and Pearl Jam, the most notorious rock concert tragedies have generally been linked to the biggest names in the business. That is, until Great White took the stage of a tiny Rhode Island nightclub Thursday night. The heavy metal “hair” band, which reached the brief apex of its career in the 1980s, will now be forever remembered for a devastating fire that stands in a class by itself as the deadliest episode in the annals of rock ‘n’ roll mayhem.… Read more »