The Smashing Pumpkins are an influential American
alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988.
Billy Corgan and
James Iha met in a record store, and began performing in local nightclubs with their bassist,
D'Arcy Wretzky, using a drum machine. Playing with a drum machine frustrated both the band and their audience, and so Chicago jazz drummer
Jimmy Chamberlin was hired soon afterwards.