Results tagged “billycorgan”

Billy Corgan put on a puppet show. Yes, you read that right, a puppet show named Gothageddon. It features appearances by -- among others -- a teddy bear ringside announcer, the bald one himself, Robert Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, and, wait for it, James Iha. All characters are voiced by Corgan, often rather hilariously. While we have been greatly disappointed by Corgan's output over the last few years, and with his insistence on squeezing every last penny he can out of the Smashing Pumpkins brand, we have to admit that Gothageddon proves that the dude does still have a sens of humor and for that we're grateful. And amused.

The Great Pumpkin has announced he'll release the next Smashing Pumpkins album -- all 44 projected tracks of it -- piecemeal online for free. Superfans can shell out for periodic EP packages of 4 songs each, and super-duper fans can buy a box set of the whole shebang once (if?) all 44 tracks are released.

• There's still some skepticism as to whether or not President Obama will make the trip to Copenhagen on the eve of the IOC's October 2nd vote for the 2016 Olympic games.
• Speaking of the Olympics, in the latest edition of one poll that measures where city's rank with their bids, Chicago is now second behind Rio.
• WBEZ talked to local Congressmen to see where they stand on health care reform in the wake of President Obama's speech last night.

We couldn't help but snicker when we saw that The Smashing Pumpkins a.k.a. the Billy solo show made #8 on The Independent's list of worst rock and roll comebacks. We still count ourselves fans, but Corgan is sorely testing our ability to even listen to ""Rhinoceros"* without cringing because his current antics continue to sour our appreciation for his band's past heights. (h/t HipstersUnited)

Sometimes you just get tired of working with rock stars...especially if you happen to be one. Instead of combing the Hollywood handbook of freelance musicians for new members, Smashing Pumpkins leader and sole remaining member Billy Corgan is putting out the word that the job of timekeeper is open to anyone who can sling a stick. From a press release received at the musically inclined Chicagoist office today:

The Smashing Pumpkins finally returned home last night and were predictably panned by both DeRo and Kot (were they sitting together in the balcony one wonders?). One of our readers wrote in to tell us the crowd was the problem though, including folks "playing with picture templates on their camera phones, screaming horribly at the most inappropriate times, and worst of all the whiny girl who sat behind us and spent the entire show talking." Were you there? What was your take? Is Billy Corgan off his rocker or are the fans really to blame?

CYNICAL TANKBOY: Oh great, Billy's back. As if it weren't insult enough that he pulled the Pumpkins' name out of the grave once his solo career stalled, now he has to add insult to injury by touring with a bunch of session musicians while cashing in on the sentimentality train? I understand times are tough dude, but if you're not going to tour with James Iha and D'arcy you should be calling yourself either The Billy Corgan Experience or ... Zwan.

Looking forward to hearing the new Smashing Pumpkins single, "G.L.O.W." (not to be confused with the G.L.O.W. we remember from our youth)? We hope you have an Xbox360, Wii, or Playstation 3. Capt. Corgan has announced the track will be packaged with two other older Pumpkins tracks ("1979" and "The Everlasting Gaze") on the upcoming video game, "Guitar Hero: World Tour." How avant-garde. Lucky players will also be able to play as Corgan, enabling them to live the dream of being a once-vital rock star who has kept wheezing well past his sell-by date.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is suing Lester Cohn of Pure DV Productions in Gurnee for unsatisfactory work, and for holding footage of the artist hostage. Cohn was hired by Corgan to take video of the singer while on a solo tour between 2003 and 2005. Now Corgan claims that the parts of the recordings he's seen are unprofessional and substandard, and wants to abort mission. Per the Trib,

James Iha and D'Arcy are suing Virgin Records for digital royalties. No word yet on if they also plan on suing Billy Corgan for being a weenie.

Honestly, we were once huge Smashing Pumpkins fans, we swear. But this weekend's vague announcement of a forthcoming Gish box set/anniversary re-release has snapped our last nerve. We refuse to plug Corgan any more until he actually talks James and D'arcy back into the band. That would be newsworthy.

Oh Billy Corgan, are we on this list? Today the Smashing Pumpkins announced:

First person to name the song those lyrics in the headline came from gets a no-prize. Own some of Billy Corgan. Really. It's not a good idea to e-mail a Playboy playmate via Myspace, especially when said playmate is dating the Bears' Adam Archuleta, you're from Aurora, and type in bold threatening capital letters. Some Wisconsinites have a unique take on the designated driver. What did you do on your summer vacation? (via) Give...

Ah, yes. First Turd Blossom, now Fredo. Yup, we're dancing a jig this evening. Are Cubs fans still waiting to exhale? Illinois' number one team - don't believe us, check the map - is only two games back. Billy Corgan will say anything to promote Zeitgeist. One viewing of this video and you'll say to yourself that at least the Chicago Public Schools aren't that bad. Illinoisans have more to love. Video of Frank...

We're a bit mystified that anyone is paying attention to the new Billy Corgan solo jawn Smashing Pumpkins album. OK, not really. Though Corgan has been largely written off as a joke in recent years, there is no denying his influence over the direction music took in the '90s. He led a band that appealed to everyone from gloom and doom goths to mainstream Abercrombie & Fitch-lovers by playing the disaffected heartstrings that lay within every teenager. Some blame him for the commercialization of the Alternative Nation, but we feel those folks are just griping because Corgan had the gall to reach for superstardom while admitting that was his goal all along.

Joshua Kuhl of Madison, Wis., and Simon Brown of Rockford, Ill., were charged with felony burglary on Tuesday for allegedly breaking into the Smashing Pumpkins’ rehearsal space and taking various items including publicity photos for the group’s next album.

Chicagoist needs to stop making bets that the Smashing Pumpkins will play Lollapalooza this year. With Pearl Jam already rumored to headline and the Pumpkins playing every fest known to man this summer, we thought that Billy Corgan would actually have some sort of allegiance to our fair town. Not so fast.

This morning Billy Corgan announced to his myspace friends that the 6th album from the Smashing Pumpkins will be titled “Zeitgeist”. The post lists the strange drop date as July 7, 2007 – a Saturday. Is it a wedding gift for Eva Longoria or an opportune day for reunion fans still swooning about the past after The Police concerts at Wrigley to keep the nostalgia trip going with a purchase?

New City’s annual list of "who rocks Chicago" is out with some minor changes for this year.

Want to score a pair of tickets to see Conan when he comes to Chicago May 9-12? Better act fast. To request tickets (2 per person allowed), send an email to ConanInChicago@nbcuni.com with your name, address, phone number and email address.

Maybe the constant weather changes were getting to people, but it was pretty cranky on Chicagoist last week. As opposed to crunky, which would have been pretty cool.

Yesterday afternoon Billboard's website added to the Smashing Pumpkins rumors circling the globe with a possible reunion occuring at the August 4-6th Lollapalooza here in Chicago. There's no confirmation of the dates or who will be playing, but the Texas-based Capital Sports & Entertainment are in charge again. The line-up will not be announced for weeks, but Thievery Corporation told Billboard that they would be there.

For the last month or so, we’ve been seeing rumors online about the “The Smashing Pumpkins” reuniting for Coachella. Forgive us if we’re having trouble getting excited about it. We’re not sure how it started but it might have something to do with this post on Billy Corgan’s MySpace blog that said: “The surprise I have in store for you all will be announced soon enough…” Ever since then, the Pumpkins have been mentioned in...

For Chicago's entertainment beats, 2005 is best summed up by the phrase: change is good. At this time last year, if you had told us that 2005 would bring not one, but two world class rock festivals to Chicago’s parks, we’d have patted you on the head and cooed “Aw, you’re so cute.” But wonders never cease and so it was that the city of Chicago finally realized that in order for Chicago to become...

Usually when Chicagoist hears of a band reuniting we cringe. It’s a natural defense mechanism and we can’t help it. This is not always the case though as there are some bands that, face it, just never got their due the first time around. Chicago’s Cupcakes is one of those bands.

Move over, Billy Corgan and tell Liz Phair the news: Chicago has a new ambassador of cultural affairs in Kanye West, who graces the cover of this week’s Time magazine. Writer Josh Tyrangiel turns in a solid profile of West (subscription required) that swims in the contradictions of an artist whose brilliance onstage is matched only by his braggadocio and petulance offstage. Proving that it’s not always best to dress up for an interview, West...

Saturday night’s your last chance to experience the free “high culture” of the Grant Park Music Festival and your best chance to wish WTTW a Happy 50th. When it comes to birthday bashes, these folks aren’t messing around. The emcess for the night are Joe “Fat Tony” Mantegna and Irma P. Hall who, for all their work supporting Hollywood’s biggest stars, have never actually worked together until now.

Since Chicagoist doesn't have a job right now, we didn't try to attend the sold out shows at the Vic this week by Chicago's very own Billy Corgan. It does look like that it may not have been so difficult a task to get tickets to the 2nd show, but by then we were well into our couch recovering from the 4th's festivities.

Let’s say you’re releasing your first solo album (although many folks have accused your entire recorded output up until this point as basically being solo work.) Let’s say that this album is ostensibly a chance for you to distance yourself from your previous band. Let’s say that this band had a pretty popular signature sound and, after one attempt to follow that sound up with something similar exploded upon takeoff, you’ve decided to regroup, retool and release something largely unexpected.

There are a few questions on our lazy, yet caffeinated, mind this morning. Why is tonight’s Ted Leo show at Logan Square Auditorium NOT sold out? It seems like everyone we’ve talked to recently has said they’re planning on going and yet tickets still remain. Has he fallen off? Did we miss a Rock Snob memo? Someone please explain this contradiction! If this announcement leads to a run on tickets then we’ll be just as...