Remember, Fan Is Short For Fanatic

By Jocelyn Geboy in Arts & Entertainment on May 11, 2007 6:45PM

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.

The Sun-Times article references the guys as “ardent fans.” Or crappy opportunists? Either way, they allegedly broke into the band’s studio space on the 300 block of North Loomis Street last Friday and stole three guitar picks and 39 photographs. Police said the shots were artwork and/or video stills for “Zeitgeist,” the much-anticipated reunion album due on July 7. Harrison Area Police Sgt. Vidal Vasquez, remarked that the band was “pissed” because they’d have to shoot new pics.

The photos, listed below, were posted on the fansite Netphoria.org, but were taken down by Webmaster Andrew Pakula when they were notified the photos were stolen goods.

• Paris Hilton posing in front of a backdrop of a bomb exploding
• The Grim Reaper standing at a podium emblazoned with the Seal of the President of the United States, in front of a black and white Smashing Pumpkins flag
• A person in a business suit wearing a devil mask and being crucified
• Five blonde children saluting
• Close-up of Billy Corgan in a hoodie
• Billy Corgan in a hoodie, standing next to a woman with no shirt on

Of course, the jokers have been arrested, but the lineup of the band? The Pumpkins’ publicists still don’t have that nailed down. Several Web sites have reported that founding members Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin will be joined on their summer tour by bassist Ginger Reyes, formerly of the California all-girl pop-punk band Halo Friendlies, and guitarist Jeff Schroeder, formerly of a little-known Southern California noise-pop band called the Lassie Foundation, but the publicists claim they don’t know for sure who is in the band. Smashing Pumpkins will make their debut on stage in Paris on May 22.

"Wanted - Burglar Bill" by Andwar