Questions for the band?
September 26th, 2008 by jillysptags: sp.com, news
With all the news spilling out from the Smashing Pumpkins camp over the last couple of weeks, there’s no doubt that the fan community has a lot of questions.
In the last couple of weeks, we’ve discovered:
- There’s a big 20th anniversary tour coming up — and it has a theme.
- The band will play the well-known Bridge School Benefit for the third time.
- The band plans to record their live shows and make them available to download for a fee; implications for the LMA are yet unknown.
- The new Guitar Hero will feature a playable Billy Corgan character and new music from the band.
- Total Nonstop Action wrestling has used the Smashing Pumpkins’ music as part of their promotions and their live pay-per-view events.
- Billy Corgan spoke with EQ Magazine and revealed ongoing plans for the Gish box set and potentially other album-oriented projects in the future.
- Oh yeah, and there’s a DVD coming out. And a corresponding film festival debut. And a Jimmy Kimmel performance. And a meet-and-greet VIP ticket package.
SmashingPumpkins.com has asked us to reach out to HU readers to find out what pressing questions are on your mind. The band wants to do another Q&A and wants your input.
Submit your questions via our comments section!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
like you implied already jill, i would like to know what the livedownloads stuff means for the open taping policy and the LMA.
and, though i doubt i i will get an answer, i would like to know if there’s any high-level “theme” or description billy can provide about the black sunshine and white crosses setlists (i.e. 1 night is heavy, 1 night is acoustic, both nights will be a mix). I don’t expect an answer here, but just was looking for something “to go on” when friends who can only make 1 night of a 2-day stint ask which show they should go to.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Going along with what Davin said, I’d be curious to know whether the plan is to eventually put archived soundboards for sale on the livedownloads site. I’ve noticed that some of the other bands on there are doing both their new tour as well as selected shows from the past.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Are there additional 20th Anniversary dates to be announced? If so, anything in Texas?
September 26th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
what Gordon said! times two! (plus infinity)
September 26th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
how trusted is that vip package special, will hate to pay for that “vip” ticket and get both lousy seat and a “the band will not be able to attend you, but thanks for stoping bye”…
and are there vip tickets for the double days???
thanks.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
IMHO, people should just be grateful for whatever they have available.
September 26th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Besides G.L.O.W. will there be any new songs played at these 20th anniversary shows?
and for shits and giggles…Are you coming to Minneapolis on my b-day for a show on December 7 hint hint- we can barter-I’ll give you my 1987 Cubs baseball cards? (sorry had to throw it in)LOL
September 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I also want to know what the upcoming soundboard downloads mean for the LMA and open-taping policy.
September 26th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
livedownloads.com shows will not affect the LMA or open-taping policy
September 26th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Q-Ball - That’s been completely unclear via the official SP.com messaging. I think it would be good for them to clarify their objectives and hopes for the project, what the inspiration was, and how the band actually feels about the LMA.
Since it hasn’t been officially addressed, I do think it’s on the minds of a lot of the fans.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
(wow thank you sp.com/hu)
mm.. safely going on a “please-play-in-*isert city*” question, I would ask if they are going to plan some “celebration” even here in old europe too in a remote future…
otherwise I would ask if the gish rolling box set is still on hold..
(I know we are going to be flooded by tons of great music in the next few months, but that box is something too exciting to not ask for ;P)
September 26th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
here’s a good question…
do you want the questions for SP on this comment thread or send it to you via the contact us comment section???
September 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Reggae — Please feel free to leave them here!
September 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Will the setlist for BS & WC be static? And with in regards to the Special Show i wanted to be clear that there might be additional songs played there that aren’t included in the BS & WC setlist
September 26th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
thanks jillysp :)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
¿ when is the north carolina wing of the autumn tour going to be announced ¿
September 26th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
¿ and will rain dates get their own unique set lists different from sunshine and whatnot ¿
September 26th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
¿ will the tarantula box set come in an aramaic could be most helpful considering ¿ mozarabic nice as well. ¿
September 26th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
correction *translating into english as i speak*
¿ will the tarantula box set come in an aramaic translation. that could be most helpful considering ¿ mozarabic nice as well. ¿
*thank you for your humble patience*
September 26th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
No questions for Billy… just a random remembrance.
Hey Billy! Remember when you kicked that douchebag from The Used in the stomach? I really wish I could have seen that. You must have the patience of a saint to have stopped with a simple kick to the belly.
Oh fuck it. Hey Billy, if you could kick anyone ELSE in the stomach, who would that be and why?
rC: to Mortally
September 26th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
stop calling the single day shows special. its the 2 days ones that are special dammit!!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Billy kicked the guy from The Used in the stomach?
Billy you are officially my hero!
September 26th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I’d be interested in knowing what bands Billy and the guys consider relevant, cutting edge today?
Oh… and why the heck they are skipping Seattle again? Perhaps Billy should be reminded of his SOLD OUT solo show at the Moore Theater when he came back after the encore and said, “The next time I’m back in Seattle it’ll be with the Smashing Pumpkins… and it’s gonna FUCKIN’ ROCK!”… I’m ready for the next time!
September 26th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
they’re all special, davin. everybody’s special :).
September 27th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Hey Billy and Jimmy, thanks for everything thus far, especially Machina and Zeitgeist.
1. Regarding future new music; it would be great to have some clarification on what your plans actually are in regards to releasing a standard format album, or are you still doing the multi-year multi-part release?
2. Doing a Gish tour seems so against everything you’ve said about wanting to compose and perform new music, so what has overridden your passion to create & inspired you to spend time revisiting your old material?
3. Jimmy, you are constantly reconfiguring your kit, but what inspired you to drop the 18/19″ crash on the front right-hand side of your kit? Between 1995 and 2003 you had the same/similar size crashes at the front left and right which had a really nice stereo effect, but you dropped the right hand one sometime after 2003. What inspired this particular change, I’m guessing the Constantinople has something to do with it?
Thanks and kind regards.
September 27th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Hi Billy,
Regaring Gish box set, and according your answer for some interview. you have plan to release each of the past TSP albums with box set thing… Could you please tell me what’s your intention? Do you think it is our, your fan’s expectation? Or, you would like to put your realeased & non-realeased songs together out into this modern world? and, would like to see how the present world react to?? I hope you don’t say, your passion for creation of new sound has been throttled down…. Oh so, are you going to release new songs between the release of each box sets?? … ummm…
Warmest regards.
September 27th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Would love for Billy and Jimmy to recommend a few books - whether its inspirational, sentimental, or just a damn good read.
Also, its great that now I have a glimmer of hope after the Chicago Songs news, but where does that leave all of the unreleased Zwan material? (specifically the Djali songs)
I want BC to know that there is a pretty big demand for Djali and Chicago songs, and I want to know where his opinion of the “underwhelming response” came from. Ticket sales? Reading reviews and such online?
It would be nice to buy and enjoy a box-set or even an EP while the demand is still there . . . I’m sure I will still buy it when I am 64, but it would be nice to listen to it without hearing aids.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:27 am
How about clearing up some Pumpkins urban legends?
a) Did you really re-record Adore with Jimmy playing drums?
b) Is that really Courtney Love on the cover of Pisces Iscariot?
September 29th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Sorry, please allow me to rewrite my question!
Regaring Gish box set, and according your answer for some interview. you have plan to release each of the past TSP albums with box set thing. Could you please tell me what?s your intention? Do you think it is our, your fan’s expectation? Or, you would like to put your realeased & non-realeased songs together out into this modern world, and would like to see how the world react to? Or, you think you need a sort of liquidation of the past for you to move forward?
I hope you don?t say, your passion for creation of new sound has been throttled down. So, are you going to release new songs between the release of each box sets??
Thank you and Warmest regards.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Ooh, ooh, I got one:
You mentioned a few times in 2000 that you wanted to start opening up The Vaults & releasing studio demos, live stuff, rehearsal tapes, etc., and that there was a pretty much “neverending supply”. With 8 years of advances in technology- things like the iTunes store, livedownloads, bittorrent, etc., some of which you’ve already started to use- do you think you’ll be revisiting this idea?
(…and if so, need anyone to help go through some of that stuff? :) )
September 29th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I’ll second the questions regarding the Gish box set–I’d love to know what these album box sets will include and what the target release date might be.
And I’ll also second what Root asked; I know Billy will kill me for this but I would absolutely love a box set of unreleased Zwan material–the bits and pieces on the For Your Love DVD show how much brilliance didn’t make it onto MSOTS.
A few other questions:
1. Would you be open to working with Melissa auf der Maur in the future?
2. Is there a chance to see some of the non-CD tracks from the digital Rarities and B-Sides release (”Bullet Train to Osaka,” “Infinite Sadness,” etc.) on an official CD release?
3. On a similar note, how about an official CD release of Machina II? Is this a consideration for the Machina box set?
4. Why do you choose not to play solo/Zwan material in SP sets? Would it really be all that different from performing vintage SP songs like “Cherub Rock” and “Heavy Metal Machine” just because they happened to be released under the Smashing Pumpkins name? I’d love to hear re-interpretations of “Mina Loy (MOH),” “El Sol,” etc.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:57 am
Anth Says:4
- untrue fan alert
October 4th, 2008 at 1:03 am
1) will future pumpkins music be written from any particular framework or perspective in mind? zeitgeist seemed to come from an active/assertive approach to songwriting, like the band was making a comeback. how will this continue to evolve?
2) what informs the songwriting process? live performance at all? how has this developed and is it finding its way into new songs?
October 4th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
is the band interested in playing a variety of venues? not only huge arenas, but also smaller and less conventional, atlernative venues