After Dinner Speakers: Smashing Pumpkins, Moray Hunter, Griff Rhys-Jones

Once widely viewed as poor relations to Nirvana's major label alternative rock, Chicago, USA's Smashing Pumpkins, led by Billy Corgan (b. 17 March 1967, Chicago, Illinois, USA; vocals/guitar) persevered to gradually increasing commercial acceptance and press veneration. Corgan's inspirations, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Doors and Black Sabbath, as well as a professional jazz musician father, add up to a powerful musical cocktail over which his lyrics, which frequently cross the threshold of normality and even sanity, float unsettlingly. The rest of the band comprised D'Arcy Wretzky (b. 1 May 1968, South Haven, Michigan, USA; bass), James Iha (b. 6 March 1968, Elk Grove, Illinois, USA; guitar) and Jimmy Chamberlain (b. 10 June 1964, Joliet, Illinois, USA; drums). Smashing Pumpkins made their official debut with a drum machine at the Avalon club in Chicago. Chamberlain was then drafted in from a 10-piece show band (JP And The Cats) to fill the percussion vacancy (Corgan had previously played in another local band, the Marked). The band made its recording debut in early 1990 with the release of "I Am The One" on local label Limited Potential Records. Previously they had included two tracks on a Chicago compilation, Light Into Dark. This brought the band to the attention of influential Seattle label Sub Pop Records, with whom they released "Tristessa"/"La Dolly Vita" in September 1990, before moving to Caroline Records. Gish, produced by Butch Vig, announced the group to both indie and metal audiences, and went to number 1 on the influential Rockpool College Radio Chart. Ironically, given the Nirvana comparisons, this came before Vig had produced Nevermind. However, it was Siamese Dream that launched the band to centre stage with its twisted metaphors and skewed rhythms. A Top 10 success in the US Billboard charts, it saw them joined by mellotron, cello and violin accompaniment to give the sound extra depth. However, these remained secondary to the pop hooks and rock atmospherics that have defined the band's sound. Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness was a bold project (the double CD contained 28 songs), yet the band managed to pull it off. With swirling strings, angst-ridden vocals and some beautifully spiteful guitar the album was a major achievement artistically and commercially. Their touring keyboard player, Jonathan Melvoin (b. 6 December 1961, Los Angeles, California, USA, d. 12 July 1996; ex-Dickies) died of a heroin overdose in July 1996. At the same time the band sacked their drummer Chamberlain after his continuing drug abuse. His replacement was Matt Walker (ex-Filter), but he departed in late 1997 to form his own band. During frenetic preparations for the new Smashing Pumpkins album, Iha found time to release a surprisingly mellow solo set. Adore debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard album chart in June 1998. Wretzky left the band during recording sessions for the follow-up, and was replaced by Melissa Auf Der Maur (b. 17 March 1972; bass, ex-Hole). MACHINA/The Machines Of God was a major disappointment and, after the initial sales burst, a commercial failure. It came as no surprise that Corgan announced that the band would split-up after their farewell tour. In one final defiant act, he made the excellent MACHINA II/The Friends And Enemies Of Modern Music available as an MP3 download only. Corgan debuted with his new band Zwan in late 2002.