Are The Smashing Pumpkins Reuniting For A Tour Next Year?

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 29, 2017 3:50PM

Billy Corgan / Getty Images / Photo: Ian Gavan

Billy Corgan has kept himself very busy these days, whether prepping an ambitious amount of solo material or, um, landing his own shopworn professional wrestling company. But many longtime fans will forever remain fixated on that elusive, full-fledged Smashing Pumpkins reunion. Turns out, they may have at least some small reason for hope.

Founding drummer Jimmy Chamberlain—who's been back in the current Pumpkins fold since 2015—teased a potential original-lineup reunion tour in an interview with WGN radio earlier this week. The nugget was small and cryptic, but loaded enough to get the rumor mill (which, in terms of original-lineup Smashing Pumpkins reunions, never really sputters) rolling again.

Chamberlain said:

"We were talking about playing next year with the band and somebody asked me, you know, 'What's it like to coordinate that?' I said, 'It's like Grumpy Old Men 3, only there's three grumpy old men and one's a woman.’ That's how it has gotten to be."

The original lineup—Corgan, Chamberlain, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and guitarist James Iha—haven't performed together in almost 20 years, but there's been steady progress toward reconciliation over the years. Aside from Chamberlain's return, Iha and Corgan performed together last year, in LA and Chicago. And Wrtetzky and Corgan reportedly buried the hatchet last year. Also, that sweet reunion cash would definitely help in terms of Corgan's property-tax-bill whopper, right?

Right now, we guess we'll have to be patient for developments. Luckily, Pumpkins fans are experts in that regard.

[H/T Stereogum]