The Smashing Pumpkins released 2007’s
"Zeitgeist" to mixed reviews and underwhelming
numbers compared to previous releases and this, according to
frontman Billy Corgan, is one of the reasons he’s
considering never releasing a full album with the band again.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Billy
Corgan expressed his interest in becoming a band that only
releases singles from now on. Talking about
"Zeitgeist", he says, "We're done with that.
There is no point. People don't even listen to it all. They put it
on their iPod, they drag over the two singles, and skip over the
rest." He adds, "Our primary function now is to be a
singles band that drives Pumpkins Inc through singles. We'll still
be creative, but in a different form."
He later talks about how he would like the band to handle
touring from now on. "We won't do shows like this anymore,
where we try to draw a good crowd and balance the past with the
present," he says. "We'll go small and do exactly what we
want to do and stop playing catalogue. We'll be like a new band
that can't rely on old gimmicks. I'm not stupid. I want people to
feel good about what we do. What we weren’t getting was excitement.
We’re in the polarizing business. We don’t want a pat on the back:
Good to have you back. We want a reaction, even if it’s a negative
reaction."
Report by David Lowe-Bianco.
After 17 years.. all down to this? 