Smashing Pumpkins Returning: Good or Bad?

It has been announced that the new album from Smashing Pumpkins will be released this summer. With the album months away, I am already reading negative reports throughout the internet. Granted the entire band line-up isn't returning as it will only be Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin but to be truthful Billy Corgan is what made Smashing Pumpkins. I think them returning to the music scene is a good thing. So many bands out there are far from good. All they do is scream into a microphone and they call it music. Then you have bands that cry and moan throughout the entire song and they call themselves a band. With the Smashing Pumpkins returning it would actually give the kids something that could inspire them rather than destroy them. I actually think that most people have forgotten what the group did throughout the 90's. They revolutionized how rock music was perceived. They took chances that most bands wouldn't have done and they made it their own.

Let's take a ride down Smashing Pumpkins alley. In 1988, Billy Corgan and James Iha met and formed the band. Not long after, D'Arcy arrived on the scene and became the bass player. Catching the ear of a local club owner Smashing Pumpkins were booked to open up for Jane's Addition if only they would toss the drum machine they were using which led to Jimmy Chamberin coming in.

In 1991, the band released their fist album entitled Gish. Even now after sixteen years, I still listen to this album. While on the road with the Gish tour things began to happen that probably would have broken up a normal band. James Iha and D'Arcy were at the time dating but ended the relationship. Even though their dating didn't hurt the band musically it definitely took an emotional toll on the members. Then Billy Corgan developed insecurities about himself that when they returned to Chicago he was virtually at the state of suicide. Lastly, Jimmy Chamberlin announced to the group that he was addicted to drugs and alcohol, which sent him to rehab. After the tour instead of feeling triumph, the band was seriously on the verge of destruction.