The Smashing Pumpkins served as musical guests on Thursday’s The Late Late Show with James Corden where they performed “Today” and detailed their upcoming concept album.
Prior to their performance, Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha hung around with host James Corden at the bar for a quick chat. The usually stoic frontman Corgan was in an atypically smiley mood as he cracked jokes with Corden, who revealed last week that will retire from The Late Late Show in 2023 after eight years on the air.
The Pumpkins earlier this week announced the Spirits On Fire Tour with special guests Jane’s Addiction. The two alt-rock giants have a rich history together, dating back to 1988 when The Pumpkins—in only their third-ever show with the band’s original lineup—opened for Jane’s Addiction. When asked what the biggest difference between touring now and touring back then, Chamberlin responded “Him and I no longer share a room,” gesturing toward Billy. The other big difference is the absence of bassist D’arcy Wretzky from the 75% reunited original lineup of Corgan, Iha, and Chamberlin.
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Billy also gave a brief pitch for the band’s upcoming album, which is reportedly finished according to guitarist Jeff Schroeder. The 33-song, triple-LP rock opera will serve as a sequel to the band’s 1995 opus Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness as well as 2000’s Machina/The Machines of God.
Switching gears over to the stage, The Smashing Pumpkins turned in a nostalgic performance of their Siamese Dream radio staple, “Today”. Though the band has seen quite a few changes since the song came out in 1993, the timeless composition still connects to the core essence of The Smashing Pumpkins and what they embody to this day.
Watch The Smashing Pumpkins perform “Today” and talk with James Corden. The band is currently out on the Rock Invasion 2 tour, with a headlining set tonight, May 14th, at BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, CA. For tickets and a full list of tour dates click here.
The Smashing Pumpkins – “Today”
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