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Billy Corgan has unveiled a new solo project, Billy Corgan and the Machines of God, along with a North American tour set for June 2025.

Billed as “The Return to Zero Tour,” the outing will see Corgan and company celebrating the Smashing Pumpkins‘ opuses Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (30th anniversary) and Machina/The Machines of God, plus its sequel Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music (both 25 anniversary). Setlists will draw from those albums, with tour dates kicking off June 7th in Baltimore and running through June 29th in Minneapolis.

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A Live Nation ticket pre-sale for select dates begins Wednesday (April 2nd) at 10 a.m. local time using the code Dance. General ticket sales start Friday (April 4th) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

Corgan’s backing band on the tour features new Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Kiki Wong, along with drummer Jake Hayden,...

Primus are looking for a new drummer following the abrupt departure of Tim “Herb” Alexander from the band, and they’re opening the position to anyone with skills behind the drum kit.

A social media post from the band on Monday (November 18th) reads: “We are currently taking submissions from all points in the universe for the position of Primus drummer/percussionist. Seeking a well-mannered, affable individual with original sensibility and aesthetic, possessing a desire to open new doors in the creative world.”

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The notice continues, “Flashy chops are wonderful, but groove, pocket, and the ability to listen, react, and contribute to the musical conversation is a must. Interested parties can submit a resume and a recent video performance to drumsearch@primusville.com.”

After exiting Primus, Alexander explained that he had lost his passion for playing in the band, saying, “A lot of times,...

Smashing Pumpkins took over the Jimmy Kimmel Live outdoor stage for a live performance of their latest single, “Sighommi.” The band delivered the song in front of an audience packed into the performance area in the parking lot behind the studio where the late-night show is filmed.

“Sighommi” is a guitar-heavy selection from Smashing Pumpkins’ recently released thirteenth studio album, Aghori Mhori Mei, which arrived in August. Billy Corgan led the set with James Iha and Kiki Wong on guitar, Jimmy Chamberlin on drums, Jack Bates on bass, and Katie Cole on backing vocals.

Billy Corgan has opened up to fans about his port-wine birthmarks, showing them off in a statement of body positivity on social media.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman took to Instagram, where he posted a picture of his birthmarks on his left hand and arm, along with a heartfelt message regarding body positivity. He also shared an image of model Carla Bertotti, who, in her own words, is “defying beauty standards” with a significant birthmark on her face.

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Corgan admitted that he had hid his birthmarks in the past, but that he was inspired by Bertotti to embrace his ‘difference.” His full message reads as follows:

“I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us.’ So as you see, here is a beautiful young woman (@carlotta_bertotti ) with a birthmark who has embraced her ‘difference’ with grace.

In the waning days of the Nineties’ alt-rock revolution, just before major record labels turned forever away from left-of-center acts and toward more mainstream fare (coughBushcough) that forever made the world a duller place, Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins were two of the hottest young rock bands on the planet. And even though Green Day appealed more to punky skater types, and the Pumpkins fit in better with their sullen classmates on the other side of the detention hall, it wasn’t uncommon for teenagers in 1994 to have both Dookie...

Smashing Pumpkins have announced a new album called Aghori Mhori Mei, which is set for release on August 2nd. The news comes ahead of the band’s upcoming tour North American tour, which includes a mix of headlining shows and dates supporting Green Day (get tickets here).

Aghori Mhori Mei marks Smashing Pumpkins’ 13th album to date. Speaking about the 10-track collection, frontman Billy Corgan said in a statement: “In the writing of this new album I became intrigued with the well-worn axiom, ‘you can’t go home again.’ Which I have found personally to be true in form but thought well, what if we tried anyway? Not so much in looking backwards with sentimentality but rather as a means to move forward; to see if in the balance of success and failure that our ways of making music circa 1990-1996 would still inspire something revelatory.” Check out the album’s artwork and tracklist below.

Smashing Pumpkins kicked off their 2024 world tour (grab tickets here) over the weekend with an opening performance in Birmingham, England, which saw them play hits, new cuts, rarities, covers, and more. It also marked the debut of the band’s new touring guitarist Kiki Wong.

Part of a leg of UK tour dates with Weezer, the opening night saw Smashing Pumpkins get things started by playing a recording of “Atum,” the first track on the band’s recently-released concept album, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts. From there, they performed a few older songs, and then covered U2’s 1991 song, “Zoo Station,” live for the very first time.

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The night also saw Smashing Pumpkins perform a few of their biggest hits, like “Today,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” and “1979,” which must be a sign that the band still enjoys them, considering that Billy Corgan recently...

After receiving over 10,000 applications in their nationwide search for a new guitarist, the Smashing Pumpkins revealed Friday the newest member of their band: Social media-famous guitarist Kiki Wong.

In January, the Pumpkins announced an open audition to fill the vacancy left by departing guitarist Jeff Schroeder, who had a 16-year tenure with Billy Corgan and company. Just two weeks later, the band said they received so many applications that it required “eight people working full-time to review each and every one.”

“Reviewing the work of these incredible musicians was a herculean,...

Smashing Pumpkins have named Kiki Wong as their new touring guitarist.

Following the departure of longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder last October, frontman Billy Corgan put out an open call for his replacement. The band received more than 10,000 applicants, which Corgan then whittled down to a group of finalists who auditioned in-person in Los Angeles last month. He settled on Wong, a veteran guitarist who has performed with the likes of Taylor Swift, Usher, and Bret Michaels, as well as with rock bands Nylon Pink, Hellfire Heart, and currently, Vigil of War.

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“Reviewing the work of these incredible musicians was a herculean, albeit worthy effort,” Corgan said in a statement. “First off, I really want to thank everyone who submitted materials for consideration. It wasn’t an easy decision with how much great guitar playing we were lucky enough to hear and see over the past few months.