The Smashing Pumpkins are an
alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 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. Less influenced by
punk than many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins had a densely layered...