This reunited band that had its A list years well over a decade ago is thisclose to canceling their entire tour because ticket sales are abysmal. No one wants to play arenas that are not even half full.
I’ll never forget years ago when Billy Corigan tried singing Gershwin with the Chicago Symphony. It was really exciting until he started singing, then it became painfully obvious that he needs to stick to rock.
Pumpkins were Billy, who wrote all the tunes and played all the instruments, and the heroin addicted drummer, who was a beast. The other two were there to look pretty in the videos. D'Arcy rocked the skinny methwhore I'd fuck (SMIF) thing for a while, when she was young, but that was then, now she's a hag. Also the days of washed up bands making millions on the nostalgia circuit are over, best they can hope for is a hotel gig in Vegas.
@Adrian Zmed: Depeche Mode can fill Madison Square Gardens back to back nights. I'm sure Billy thinks he can pull the same crowds. Looks like he's wrong.
Great link Tuesdi, their tour is skipping a few cities where I know they could filled seats. If their new album is any good it could drum up more interest.
@Florin, you're right, Depeche Mode only acquires more fans over time. They tap 80's and 90's nostalgia plus they still put out good albums. I went to a show on their most recent tour and it was packed with people of all ages. Smashing Pumpkins on the other hand kind of peaked with alternative music in the 90's.
Depeche Mode is a workhorse band, constantly communicating with their fans and taking the crown of the favored 80s band even from people who never liked them but feel sudden nostalgia. Even The Cure and Violent Femmes fans will go to one of their concerts just for fun.
Billy Corgan has been such an asshat, to fans and non-fans alike, that no one is going to see SP for the sake of nostalgia, or very few will. For myself, as often as I played their early albums on repeat, I cringe when I hear that whiny Corgan voice, so full of self reverence, these days.
Again, why are bands with large, middle aged, fan bases struggling to fill arenas? are they charging too much? BTW i saw depeche mode @london stadium last year and they were brilliant live.
My fave Corgan stories are whrn carnies try to swindle him when he tries to buy wrestling companies. Paul Heyman tried to get him to buy into ECW at a ridiculous valuation, and when he tried to take control of TNA he got hoodwinked and only received repayment of his loans.
They put out two great cds and everything else has been disappointing since then. They are still a great band in my book, and I hope they finally resolve their drama.
Looking it up, didn't Corgan buy the the NWA last year? Can't find any mention of what he paid for that.
@Unknown
Is it the promoter though? Or delusions of grandeur by Corgan? After so many years away from public performances, the logic would be go small to build up momentum.
Plot: yes, but nwa is basically a belt and a trademark at this point. It was only ever a governing body that took a cut of there champions booking fees when he appeared in their member territories. Oldest belt going, but bingo hall fodder since Ted Turner purchased the now defunct WCW.
Didn't expect the comments on D'Arcy above. It's not as if it was ever a secret that Corgan chose -- "cast" would be more accurate -- D'Arcy based on her looks and attitude; that his attempts to teach her to play bass were only somewhat successful; that Corgan chose to play most of the bass parts on the band's albums himself; and that her weakness as a player was a big impediment in live performance.
If she's now viewed as indispensable to the group, perhaps that is testimony to Corgan's success in creating a memorable band image when he selected her and James Iha to market and perform his work.
If I were Billy I would turn the empty section into a wrestling stage. Maybe call the tour Body Slamming Pumpkins? To me he will always be that douchebag in the back of the car in the 1979 video.
If this is supposed to be SP, it's not a blind - lots of headlines out there about the tour not selling well. Not a fan, never was, and don't care what they do now. But all the drama is delightful!
Smashing Pumpkins?
ReplyDelete+1
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nme.com/news/music/smashing-pumpkins-reunion-tour-sales-2249211
+1 on the Dumpkins. Billy Corgan's InfoWars persona + his bashing of D'Arcy has really turned off a lot of us who grew up with them.
ReplyDeleteHe's treated people like shit his entire career. I have so many stories from mutual friends and my own dealings!
DeleteEscape
ReplyDeleteBackstreet Boys
When I heard about a reunited Pumpkins,. I was extremely excited. But the whole D'arcy thing turned me off.
ReplyDeletenot much of a blind, really, this is all over the news
ReplyDeleteIt could be that they always sucked, and people finally figured that out.
ReplyDeleteThis. They were always horrible.
Delete+1
DeleteIt's not the Pumpkins with our D'Arcy!
ReplyDeleteNo clue why Corgan needed the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'll go with the Spice Girls.
I’ll never forget years ago when Billy Corigan tried singing Gershwin with the Chicago Symphony. It was really exciting until he started singing, then it became painfully obvious that he needs to stick to rock.
ReplyDeletePumpkins were Billy, who wrote all the tunes and played all the instruments, and the heroin addicted drummer, who was a beast. The other two were there to look pretty in the videos. D'Arcy rocked the skinny methwhore I'd fuck (SMIF) thing for a while, when she was young, but that was then, now she's a hag. Also the days of washed up bands making millions on the nostalgia circuit are over, best they can hope for is a hotel gig in Vegas.
ReplyDeleteCorgan’s a Megalomaniac. Without D’arcy they are just the Billy Corgan band.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most boring bands I've ever seen live. I am a fan though.
ReplyDeleteSame here. Saw them many times (loved the albums; friends worked at Virgin). Most boring live show EVER. Just awful.
DeleteHeard the ad on radio here for United Center. Shocked they thought they could pull off a large venue like that. Their fans are my age.
ReplyDeleteJesus that’s ancient
DeleteHometown hopeful? Chicago never could stand them.
Delete@Adrian Zmed: Depeche Mode can fill Madison Square Gardens back to back nights. I'm sure Billy thinks he can pull the same crowds. Looks like he's wrong.
ReplyDeleteGreat link Tuesdi, their tour is skipping a few cities where I know they could filled seats. If their new album is any good it could drum up more interest.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nme.com/news/music/new-smashing-pumpkins-album-song-titles-2245810
Bananarama?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of rammin bananas... Boy George
DeleteLove them but not going for the same reason as everyone else (D'Arcy.) She inspired me to learn bass and Billy is a douchenozzle.
ReplyDelete@Florin, you're right, Depeche Mode only acquires more fans over time. They tap 80's and 90's nostalgia plus they still put out good albums. I went to a show on their most recent tour and it was packed with people of all ages. Smashing Pumpkins on the other hand kind of peaked with alternative music in the 90's.
ReplyDeleteAnd, DM have evolved and still put on a great show. I saw them when I was 15 and they killed it.
DeleteI just saw that the Eagles are doing a few dates with James Taylor and I thought, two CDAN villains (Henley being the other one) for the price of one.
ReplyDeleteTRUST WALLY
ReplyDeleteQ
Melancholy and the infinite blandness. They were always over-rated. Guy sings like cat being tortured.
ReplyDeleteDepeche Mode is a workhorse band, constantly communicating with their fans and taking the crown of the favored 80s band even from people who never liked them but feel sudden nostalgia. Even The Cure and Violent Femmes fans will go to one of their concerts just for fun.
ReplyDeleteBilly Corgan has been such an asshat, to fans and non-fans alike, that no one is going to see SP for the sake of nostalgia, or very few will. For myself, as often as I played their early albums on repeat, I cringe when I hear that whiny Corgan voice, so full of self reverence, these days.
Again, why are bands with large, middle aged, fan bases struggling to fill arenas? are they charging too much? BTW i saw depeche mode @london stadium last year and they were brilliant live.
ReplyDeleteMy fave Corgan stories are whrn carnies try to swindle him when he tries to buy wrestling companies. Paul Heyman tried to get him to buy into ECW at a ridiculous valuation, and when he tried to take control of TNA he got hoodwinked and only received repayment of his loans.
ReplyDeleteI never understood the appeal
ReplyDeleteReally bad forecasting by the promoter. They could easily sell out on a small 7000-10000 seat amphitheater tour.
ReplyDeleteThey put out two great cds and everything else has been disappointing since then. They are still a great band in my book, and I hope they finally resolve their drama.
ReplyDelete@Count
ReplyDeleteLooking it up, didn't Corgan buy the the NWA last year? Can't find any mention of what he paid for that.
@Unknown
Is it the promoter though? Or delusions of grandeur by Corgan? After so many years away from public performances, the logic would be go small to build up momentum.
Plot: yes, but nwa is basically a belt and a trademark at this point. It was only ever a governing body that took a cut of there champions booking fees when he appeared in their member territories. Oldest belt going, but bingo hall fodder since Ted Turner purchased the now defunct WCW.
DeleteDidn't expect the comments on D'Arcy above. It's not as if it was ever a secret that Corgan chose -- "cast" would be more accurate -- D'Arcy based on her looks and attitude; that his attempts to teach her to play bass were only somewhat successful; that Corgan chose to play most of the bass parts on the band's albums himself; and that her weakness as a player was a big impediment in live performance.
ReplyDeleteIf she's now viewed as indispensable to the group, perhaps that is testimony to Corgan's success in creating a memorable band image when he selected her and James Iha to market and perform his work.
Btw, Iha's solo album is pretty good.
If I were Billy I would turn the empty section into a wrestling stage. Maybe call the tour Body Slamming Pumpkins? To me he will always be that douchebag in the back of the car in the 1979 video.
ReplyDeleteIf this is supposed to be SP, it's not a blind - lots of headlines out there about the tour not selling well. Not a fan, never was, and don't care what they do now. But all the drama is delightful!
ReplyDeleteCouldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a reunion without D'Arcy. That's why we arnt buying tickets.
ReplyDelete