Smashing Pumpkins play in Athens

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Smashing Pumpkins play in Athens

Smashing Pumpkins, Wednesday, November 7, 2007, Classic Center, Athens, GA (SOLD OUT

Billy Corgan brought his Smashing Pumpkins reunion tour to the Classic Center in Athens Wednesday night for a sold-out show of high powered alternative rock.

The Smashing Pumpkins perform 'United States' Wednesday night in Athens. Their two Atlanta concerts, postponed last week at the Fox Theatre due to drummer Jimmy Chamberlin's illness, are rescheduled for Nov. 15 and 16.

Billy Corgan formed the Smashing Pumpkins in Chicago in 1988, becoming one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the 1990s. Returning members Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin are joined by new additions Jeff Schroeder (guitar/vocals), Ginger Reyes (bass/vocals), and Lisa Harriton (keyboard/vocals) on tour in support of their new release, Zeitgeist.

Two-time Grammy winners and multi-platinum sellers Smashing Pumpkins play their hit 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings' at the Classic Center Wednesday. Lead guitarist Billy Corgan is a fan of Eddie Van Halen and interviewed him in the late '90s for Guitar World.

Singer-guitarist-songwriter William Patrick Corgan, Jr. was born on March 17, 1967 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. His father, William Corgan Sr., was a blues guitarist. Billy's musical interests growing up included heavy metal bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, alternative rock like Bauhaus, The Cure, and The Smiths, and mainstream rockers Queen, Boston, ELO, and Cheap Trick.

Exceptional drummer Jimmy Chamberlin keeps the beat on 'Drown.' He has overcome a heroin addiction that removed him from the Smashing Pumpkins lineup for a number of years.

Billy Corgan dated Courtney Love prior to her courtship and marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. In about 1992, Billy married museum worker Chris Fabian. Rumors circulated that Corgan and Love rekindled their romance during the Pumpkins' 1994 Lollapalooza tour, after Cobain's death. In early 2006, he moved in with Love and her daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. According to Love, he had his own wing in her new Hollywood Hills mansion.

Bassist Ginger Reyes continues the tradition of all female bassists in each lineup shuffle of the Smashing Pumpkins. The band was nominated for several MTV Video Music Awards during the 1990s; in 1996, the '1979' and 'Tonight, Tonight' videos combined to win seven VMAs, including the top award, Video of the Year, for 'Tonight, Tonight.' The video was also nominated for a Grammy.

Billy Corgan's mother , Martha, died in 1996. The song 'For Martha' from Adore, was written in her honor. In the early 2000s, Corgan would name his label Martha's Music after her as well.

A sold-out Classic Center crowd watches the Smashing Pumpkins perform Wednesday night in Athens.

Billy Corgan grew up an avid sports fan, collecting more than 10,000 baseball cards and listening to every Chicago Cubs game. He has appeared at Cubs games many times, and has thrown out first pitches. He sang 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at Wrigley Field. He was also a devoted fan of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks in the '90s, and became friends with players Dennis Rodman and Chris Chelios.

In addition to performing, Billy Corgan has produced albums for Ric Ocasek, Hole, The Frogs, and Catherine. He shared songwriting credit on several songs on Hole's 1998 album Celebrity Skin; and the title track became Corgan's second No. 1 modern rock hit. He also acted as a consultant for Marilyn Manson during the album Mechanical Animals. He has produced soundtracks for the movies 'Ransom,' 'Stigmata' and 'Spun. '

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Billy Corgan brought his Smashing Pumpkins reunion tour to the Classic Center in Athens Wednesday night for a sold-out show of high powered alternative rock.

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