So Billy is reviving the Pumpkins apparently.
For me, the pumpkins represented an era in my life… and their split kind of accelerated my passage through some painful and difficult times (yay high school). I dealt with their “death” the way I dealt with the “death” of that time period I guess…
so… I’ve got mixed feelings about them “getting back together”. I’m partly disappointed. and partly thrilled. But mostly I’ve just got mixed feelings.
Also, the fact that the letter and the news sources I’ve read claim that there is no real word about what the other band members think about Billy trying to resurrect the pumpkins leads me to believe that it’s just a Billy/Jimmy thing, and they might just try to pull together a few more people and just “call” the thing the “pumpkins”.
I wish Billy wouldn’t name another band the Smashing Pumpkins… I wish he’d just let them exist as something passed, as Pure Awesome in memory. What’s wrong with releasing music under the name ‘Billy Corgan’ ?
And lastly, why does this even matter so much to me??. It’s just a name. What difference does it really make?
Is anyone else as conflicted over this as I am?
neutronstar | 22-Jun-05 at 9:27 am | Permalink
I actually hadn’t even heard anything about that, I’m willing to give any new re-hash of the Smashing Pumpkins at least a shot. I was a big fan of the pumpkins back in the day.
Besides Billy was always lead vocals anyway right? shouldn’t be that dramtaic a difference if they get new band members. I agree that it’ll suck if they keep the name and wind up sucking, therby besmirching the good name of the Pumpkins.
starladear6 | 22-Jun-05 at 10:46 am | Permalink
“shouldn’t be that dramatic a difference if they get new band members.” (sic)
Are you joking? It would be a huge difference. Look at Zwan vs the Pumpkins. Look at any of their pre-Jimmy work. It’s not just a different ‘era’ in their musical carreer. There are stylistic differences in all of the musicians. James has such a distinct style. He retunes his guitar to like, 80 million different ways. Jimmy’s a pure drum god. No one could sound like either of them. Not with original work.
I suppose the layperson wouldn’t notice a difference because they’re probably only listening to the vocals and the lyrics, but if you’re a musician, or a real fan of the band and all its members, then you’d totally notice a difference.
And this isn’t to say that I wouldn’t give it a listen. A lot of other bands have gotten back together and been a success. But, when the pumpkins disbanded, it was a rather graceful and sentimental goodbye. I’d rather it stayed that way. the “final show” at the metro means nothing if they get back together. I’d feel like something was stolen.
btw, here’s a link to the chicago times story: link.
fellnearshiva | 22-Jun-05 at 11:29 am | Permalink
seeing as how darcy probably didn’t play bass on most of the albums, and she’s probably still crazy, it wouldn’t make too big of a difference if they had someone else playing bass, like melissa for example, though it could be anyone, really. even YOU!
pottedplant | 22-Jun-05 at 11:53 am | Permalink
I understand what you’re thinking. To you, the Pumpkins are a symbol of a certain time and place. To put them in a new time a place, a little older, would be . . . wrong, somehow. Like it’s an era you’ve put behind yourself only to see it potentially revived at a time when you’re not ready.
It’s probably like an old-school Rolling Stones fan trying to listen to the new stuff. It’s the same people and the same basic style of music, but it’s different, and somehow sullies the memory of what came before it.
livenolies | 22-Jun-05 at 11:23 pm | Permalink
I don’t know all the history of the band, but if the origin of the pumpkins was “billy and jimmy” or whatever, then I can see them thinking it’s ok to call it Smashing Pumpkins if it’s those 2 guys, regardless of who else joins the band.
Nobody I’ve talked to seems to think D’arci will be back, and I think I’d agree, given the large amount of crap that has been said about her over the years.
Personally, I’m hoping they tour, regardless of who plays bass. I never got to see them the first time around, and would like to get a chance.
my 2 cents.