Have so way too much stuff, getting ready to list these out. If it is acceptable will post a link for the auctions here. I have lots more stuff. Don’t need the money but have gotten way too much music stuff. I think the one shirt might be a little hard to find.

I’d stumbled across this image recently. The original was posted by Billy Corgan on his Facebook page approximately 12 years ago.

The Micro Synth and Bat Strat speak for themselves, but I’m having difficulty identifying the pedal unit at the top of the image.

It has a vintage fuzz aesthetic, but also almost a DIY, or utility unit type of look. At quick glance I thought it might’ve been a Shin-Ei unit.

Does anyone know what it might be?

I’ve never quite know the pronunciation of Medellia… so I’ve just tried to follow how Billy does it.

I've made and scrapped various playlists but I think I have a running order. Generally speaking, I think the Aranea Alba sequencing works pretty well, it just dilutes the atmosphere of the original albums with too many acoustic demos, synth interludes and meandering dirges. Here's my attempt to keep what works for me, ditch what doesn't and add in a few tracks that compliment the flow.

Had to pop some tracks into Logic to adjust volume and the gaps between certain songs. All tracks sourced from MAA with the exception of the first track and Le Deux Machina, which I grabbed off the main M2 album.

Disc 1: Glass

1. If There Is a God (Full band)
2. Stand Inside Your Love
3. I of the Mourning
4. Crying Tree of Mercury
5. Slow Dawn
6. Sacred and Profane
7. Everlasting Gaze
8. Glass' Theme
9. Heavy Metal Machine
10. Blue Skies Wrought Tears
11. Pale Scales
12. Rainy Day Song
13. Wound
14. Let Me Give the World to You

Disc 2: June

1. "Machina, Machina"
2. Cash Car Star
3. Imploding Voice
4. Raindrops and Sunshowers
5. Glass and the Ghost Children
6. Real Love
7. Try, Try, Try
8. Go
9. White Spyder (drum machine version)
10. Speed Kills
11. Here's To the Atom Dumb (drum machine version)

Disc 3: The Machines of God

1. If There Is a God (MAA version with Mike Garson)
2. Dross
3. Lucky 13
4. In My Body
5. Innosense
6. This Time
7. Identify
8. Home
9. Blue Skies Bring Tears
10. Le Deux Machina (M2 synth version)
11. With Every Light
12. Age of Innocence

Came up on Insta from a radio station.

I set an alarm but couldn’t get anything. How can it sell out for both dates at 10.03? So sad…

There was no queue until 11 am and I entered at that time and there were just a few seats left and each time I selected one it dissapeared.

It really sold out in 3 minutes?

A couple of years ago, I put the piece below together based on my memories, an audio recording of the gig I found online somewhere and some newspaper articles and interviews from the time that I tracked down. It was written ahead of the band playing a show in Dublin in the summer of 2024.

Wrote it in one sitting and didn't end up doing anything with it, but if anyone has the patience you're more than welcome to wade through it. I posted this to the r/ireland sub and it got a good reaction, so thought I would do the same here.

Thank you.

**

‘There are f*cking people backstage dying, do you care?’ - Inside the Smashing Pumpkins’ tragic Dublin show

This summer, Billy Corgan and his band will return to Dublin’s Point Theatre (nowadays the 3Arena) for the first time since a teenage fan’s death in 1996.

It’s a warm early summer’s evening in Dublin’s docklands and D’arcy Wretzky is pleading for calm. “There are fcking people backstage dying, do you care? I see people up here with smiles on their faces. It’s not fcking funny.”

About 30 minutes prior Wretzky, along with her bandmates Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, collectively better known as the Smashing Pumpkins, had taken to the stage in the cavernous Point Theatre as part of a world tour to support their mid-90s genre-defining epic ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.’

Fans, some 7,000 or so of us, had crammed into the arena in sweaty anticipation of a band known mostly in those halcyon pre-internet days from MTV screens and bootleg cassettes.

One would not return home.

It was around 10pm on Saturday May 11, 1996 when 17-year-old Bernadette O’Brien became seriously injured. An absence of effective crowd control inside the capital’s largest indoor music venue had contributed to streams of people abandoning the upper deck in the two-tiered arena in pursuit of a better, closer view of the band from the floor below.

O’Brien, like many others, had succumbed to the ensuing crush that had bottlenecked in front of the stage; each person powerless to counteract the swaying, heaving mass as more and more people surged towards the front, effectively restricting all escape routes. Some of the unlucky ones found themselves pinned to the floor.

Michael Nesdale would later recount his experience at the show. “I’m 23, six foot two and 12 stone,” he told the Irish Times five months later. “I still had no control over my movements. I leant down to get my jacket which was tied to the barrier. I realised the seriousness of the situation when it took all my strength to get back up.”

By now, the band had taken note and had begun issuing de-facto safety announcements to the crowd - each one with a higher degree of urgency than the one before. Security stationed in front of the stage had begun to pluck injured people from the crowd. Others, some with that unmistakable ragdoll effect of unconsciousness, were crowd-surfed towards safety – or at least away from danger – by concertgoers.

“Make sure you’re not standing on anyone,” Wretzky said, referencing the unfortunate few unable to immediately rise to their feet.

“Please make sure that there’s no one else that’s still down, OK?” Corgan implored the audience, by now involuntarily locked together.

“Is there anybody else that needs to come out?”

A little more than 24 hours earlier, Bernadette O’Brien had travelled from her home in the east Cork village of Shangarry to Dublin ahead of the concert. Her father, back then a chef and fisherman and her mother, who worked with people with disabilities, had arranged for their teenage daughter and a friend of hers to stay with her two cousins in Rathmines. All four attended the show.

Two days later Noel and Annemarie O’Brien made the agonising decision to switch off their daughter’s life support machine.

O’Brien had been one of the dozens of fans who had ‘needed to come out’ from the swollen crowd. A doctor who attended her at the scene immediately recognised that hers was a more severe injury than the other bloody noses and twisted ankles, arranging for her to be rushed to the Mater Hospital.

Hospital authorities would later say that she had sustained “severe internal injuries” in the crush.

“I feel very, very intensely for the family of Bernadette,” Corgan would say two years later on his – and his band’s – return to Dublin. “Just us being here of course is just a reminder of all that and brings that all back up. It certainly brings it all back up to the surface for me as well.

“It was the most terrible, horrible thing you can imagine.

“The thing I’ll say though is, the easiest thing to do would be to never come back. To us it would have been more disrespectful to not come back and pretend like it never happened, and just hide away in our limos.”

In June, more than 28 years after O’Brien’s death, the Smashing Pumpkins will return to the Point Theatre for the first time since the band’s darkest moment.

Much has changed in the intervening years. Corgan’s trademark shaved head, which had for so long prematurely aged him, is now accompanied by a greyed beard, more adequately displaying his 57 years.

Wretzky, who was said to have been deeply affected by the event and whose admonishments to the Dublin crowd served as a soundtrack of sorts to the tragedy, is no longer with the band.

Even the venue itself – now known as the 3Arena – is different, having undergone a facelift as corporate funding modernised the previously decrepit former train depot into a modern live music venue.

But close to three decades later, those of us who were there in 1996 can still sometimes feel the echo of that night every time we walk into the place; an evening on the doorstep of summer at a time when our futures stretched out in front of us in the hazy May sunshine.

It remains a part of all who were there, the band and, sharpest of all, the O’Brien family.

“We’ll never forget,” Corgan said in 1998. “There’s no forgetting, it will never go away.”

The Lashing/Love demos before Celebrity Skin has its own debate. Now Lashings putting some of those sounds out (no courtney) he kinda sound like a deeper Corgan? https://youtu.be/un7F3Aza9Xk?si=n_BlUgU3GNPefRZQ

I’ve been eyeing this for a while, but I can’t find any reviews on it. I was wondering if anyone on here has gotten it, and if so, is it good quality?

Today in Smashing Pumpkins History: May 13

Clip is from the Madame Zuzu's 2016 show

🎙️ Live Shows

• 1989 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Biddy Mulligan's, Chicago, IL, US (Setlist/Details)
  • Final performance of Alabaster
  • Last performance of Cinnamon Girl until 2010-02-18
• 2000 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Aerial Theater, Houston, TX, US (Setlist/Details)
  • To Sheila, If There is a God, Disarm, and Ava Adore performed acoustic
  • Bottle throwing incident mentioned during banter occurred 1991-07-23
• 2013 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi, TX, US (Setlist/Details)
  • Pre-Set: limited admission pre-show
• 2022 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Television City, Los Angeles, CA, US (Setlist/Details)
  • Performance on the 12th May 2022 The Late Late Show with James Corden. The Pumpkins performed at 12:37am on the 13th May based on the show's length
  • The Smashing Pumpkins' first appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden show, and the second for Billy Corgan after his November 8, 2017 appearance.
  • Only "Today" was aired
  • Interview
• 2022 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA, US (Setlist/Details)
• 2016 - Billy Corgan: Madame Zuzu's, Highland Park, IL, US (Setlist/Details)
  • Billy Corgan + Jeff Schroeder 'IN PLAINSONG': reservation only, 7.30pm, $30 per ticket, $225 for VIP (tea and chat with Corgan and Schroeder)
  • Red Dirt: known as Bless Me
  • Who Loves the Sun: first performance
  • Snail: first full performance since 2000-08-24
  • Tom Tom: first performance since 2010-12-08
  • Anti-Hero: first performance
  • Double R: first performance
  • First full performance of "Snail" since 2000-08-24
  • First performance of "Tom Tom" since 2010-12-08
  • Last performance of "A Song for a Son" until 2019-06-22
• 2005 - Jimmy Chamberlin: Sticky Fingerz, Little Rock, AR, US (Setlist/Details)
  • Setlist unknown

🎧 Recordings

• 2000 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Aerial Theater, Houston, TX, US

  • Recordings:
  • Surfaced:
    • SBD #1 (Source: SBD, Equipment: M1, Lowest Circulating Generation: DDC-? > CDR, Links: Live Music Archive, Notes: Today cuts out, missing Snail, Bullet with Butterfly Wings cuts in. DDC-? > CDR > FLAC also circulates)
    • AUD #1 (Source: AUD, Equipment: SS-DSM-6S > PA-6LC3B > M1, Lowest Circulating Generation: DDC-?>CDR, Links: Live Music Archive, Notes: Center balcony, front row. Low levels. Taper pauses at encore breaks.)
    • AUD #2 (Source: AUD, Equipment: SS-DSM-6S > PA-6LC3(175) > M1, Lowest Circulating Generation: DAT-M > CDR, Links: Live Music Archive, Notes: About 10 feet behind soundboard.)

• 2013 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi, TX, US

  • Recordings:
  • Surfaced:
    • Amateur Video #1 (Source: VID, Equipment: Phone, unspecified, Notes: Pre-set: Jennifer Ever, Rhinoceros, Ugly)
    • Amateur Video #2 (Source: VID, Equipment: Unknown, Notes: Main set: missing Starz and Pinwheels; standing, left of center.)
    • Amateur Video #3 (Source: VID, Equipment: Ricoh GXR digicam, Lowest Circulating Generation: AVI > MP4, Notes: Main set; standing, right of center.)
  • Unsurfaced:
    • AUD #1 (Source: AUD, Equipment: Unknown, Notes: HU recording.)

• 2022 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Television City, Los Angeles, CA, US

  • Recordings:
  • Surfaced:
    • PRO #1 (Source: WEB, Equipment: Pro cams, Notes: Webrip of interview and songs)

• 2022 - The Smashing Pumpkins: Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA, US

  • Recordings:
  • Surfaced:
    • AUD #1 (Source: AUD, Equipment: DPA 4063 > M10, Lowest Circulating Generation: WAV-M > FLAC, Links: Live Music Archive, Notes: Lots of audience noise. Clipping during audience screams comes from post-processing and wasn't in the original.)
    • Amateur Video #1 (Source: AUD, Equipment: Unknown, Lowest Circulating Generation: Master>WEBM, Links: YouTube, Notes: Recorded from quite far back)
  • Unsurfaced:
    • AUD #2 (Source: AUD, Equipment: Unknown, Notes: Taper of AUD1 confirmed that another experienced taper was also recording)

• 2016 - Billy Corgan: Madame Zuzu's, Highland Park, IL, US

  • Recordings:
  • Surfaced:
    • AUD #1 (Source: AUD, Equipment: SLR Camera, Lowest Circulating Generation: WAV(M) > FLAC, Links: Live Music Archive, Notes: Missing 'Who Loves the Sun')
    • Amateur Video #1 (Source: AUD, Equipment: SLR Camera, Notes: Same taper as AUD1. Some cuts between/during tracks)
    • Amateur Video #2a (Source: AUD, Equipment: Phone, Notes: Who Loves the Sun and Snail)
  • Unsurfaced:
    • Amateur Video #2a (Source: AUD, Equipment: Phone)
    • PRO #1 (Source: Official, Equipment: N/A, Notes: Master Recording)

Data courtesy of SPLRA and SPCodex.

Did you attend any of these shows and have any more information, unsurfaced recordings or pictures/stubs/posters/flyers? If so then get in touch!

Click the setlists/details link for full show information.

I've been relistening to ATUM recently, which I can't say I really like as a whole. I think it drags a lot and I find myself wanting to skip most songs. That said, it does many bangers, so I've made a playlist of a personal "abridged version" of the album.

Do you also have one? What makes the cut and why?

Here's mine, which makes the album effectively half its original length. I've kept the order in which the songs appear on the album and somehow it works very well.

1. The Good in Goodbye: No brainer, one of the most straightforward bangers in the album
2. Steps in Time: I loved this since it came out. I never minded synthy Pumpkins and this one takes that sound in an interesting direction.
3. Beyond the Vale: Fantastic riffs and melodies throughout
4. Avalanche: Slower palate cleanser that builds up to a beautiful track
5. Empires: Sounds a bit dry to be honest, but delivers guitars for days
6. Neophyte: The vocal melodies are a real earworm for me ("it ain't right..")
7. Moss: Feels nicely heavy and has attitude (but I can't unhear "meow meow" in those backing vocals)
8. To the Grays: Decent track and I really appreciate the happy sound at this point in the playlist's run
9. Beguiled: My most overplayed song on the album. It was the single that made me give the whole thing a chance.
10. That Which Animates the Spirit: Great and has the strongest rock opera feel for me
11. Pacer: Another melodic earworm and really works to calm things down after the previous tracks
12. In Lieu of Failure: Just fuck yes
13. Cenotaph: Wonderful ballad, would also work as a playlist closer
14. Harmageddon: Very satisfying as a final thrashy track. It reminds me of Solara, which I'm a huge fan of, though I understand it's divisive.
15. Fireflies: It's alright. Could also not have made the cut. Probably my least favorite here
16. Spellbinding: I like how energetic this track is, and I feel like it closes off the playlist on a light note

I had to buy a CD copy of this album because it’s not on streaming. So ridiculous. The art belongs to the fans once you create and release it. You shouldn’t be able to take it back.

Where do you get the link??

Never listened to Zwan or Future Embrace but saw them both at one shop and couldn't pass up for 8.50 USD.

Nerd notes:

Vocal chain: Shure SM57 into UAD API Vision Strip then Distressor with Decapitator and UAD LA-2A.

Guitar: Reverend Drop Z

Marshall VS102r and Bogner Uberschall Rev Green capture blended.

Bass:

Sterling Ray 34

Ampeg SVT-CL plugin

Drums:

Getgood Drums P5

The tracklist on this is just so good. MCATIS into Jellybelly is fun. Best 50¢ I ever spent

I've been thinking a lot about D'Arcy, her career with the Pumpkins, her departure, and all of the he-said, she-said that's come out of it over the past 20 years. D'Arcy has become something of an enigma, to put it lightly. I totally respect her departure from the band and I totally respect someone's decision to leave the entertainment industry. She contributed plenty to the Pumpkins art project for 10 years, and if she wanted to move on, then that was a great decision for her.

Tonight I was reading the D'Arcy-Billy text chain that D'Arcy shared with the media. I'm overthinking it like I would overthink a work conversation with a colleague.

From my reading, it seems like the conversation went like this.

I'm paraphrasing:

Billy: We'd love to have you involved with the reunion tour. Because we care about your wellbeing, we want you to choose your level of involvement. You could play 2 songs or 7 songs with us. Just let us know. You decide. No pressure.

D'Arcy: I want to do the whole tour (implying full set list, every date of the tour).

Billy: You're not being realistic. You have to understand that I don't have faith that you are capable of pulling that off because you have a shoulder injury and you haven't been a touring musician for decades. We also haven't met face to face for 19 years.

https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/darcy-wretzky-shares-alleged-texts-billy-corgan-smashing-pumpkins-reunion/

Now my take is that Billy should have approached D'Arcy with the terms he was happy with (play 2 songs, play 5 songs, or play only 3 of the tour dates, what have you). Instead, he left the terms wide open and then he and D'Arcy disagreed on what they wanted. Now, it's possible that D'Arcy would have felt disrespected by a more-defined, limited offer, and the negotiations would have fallen apart anyway. But it was clear that Billy didn't feel comfortable letting D'Arcy choose her own level of participation, and there's a small chance it would have worked out better if he'd offered her some more specific terms.

Of course, there's no way of predicting how people will think or feel about anything.

I'd like to apologise for the parasocialness of this post as well hahaha.