Guest Bloggers
Q&A with Manufacturer of the Smashing Pumpkins 7″ Flexidisc by Hypno Raygun
They pressed 5000 of these, but I think there was a slight underrun. I wish my fan club was that big.
There is, and no, you can’t buy one. :) As far as I know James Iha approved these….just kidding, they went to Billy, of course.
Yes, and yes. The stampers are here at our pressing facility in San Francisco. We keep the ones that aren’t damaged in pressing in case we need to press more or if they want to repress. The “lacquer masters” are actually Direct Metal Masters in our case, and they’re held at our plant in the Czech Republic, which is where we make all of our standard records. That’s also where the masters are cut.
Indeed it was.
I believe that it was sent in a wav file. Nothing really glamorous about moving digital files around.
Pretty basic, just the song. They were initially going to do a postcard flexi but when I heard the song (which is very quiet) I urged them to do a standard flexi. I also suggested the Lisa Frank-y sparkly foil color for the art, which I was really happy they went with!
No, I’ve never worked with them before. Was a die-hard fan growing up though!
In short, yes. We’ve been around since 2005 and every year has been a bigger year for vinyl production than the one before it. I think there’s a lot of benefits to making something real and special and tangible with your music, it really puts it in a better light than an mp3. That said, if you’ve got crappy music, no amount of gatefold colored vinyl wizardry will help that ;)
Any time. |
A special thanks to Matt Jones with Pirates Press for the interview.
Getting Freaky! by Geo Folkers
To us, The Smashing Pumpkins are not just about music. They are something original. The Pumpkins music has a moving aesthetic appeal and has an emotional impact with meaning. The music resonates in ways often we can not explain. It’s just noise. But it’s the Pumpkins emotional energy and skill behind the noise that has the power to transport the listener to shift their consciousness. To offer inspiration and dream.
It is easy for one to consider the Pumpkins as art more than music. An art perfected. To want all the albums, rarities, posters, and vinyl is part of the relationship.
A website exsists with other fans that have an insane appreciation for the Smashing Pumpkins. The site is called SPfreaks.com.
SPfreaks is run by fans from all over the world!
This website began in 2003 based on the idea of 3 major international collectors of Smashing Pumpkins memorabilia. At the time almost no visual information was available on the internet. With the help of family and friends, in times of financial hardship and after thousands of hours of scanning, researching, frustrations, and laughter – SPfreaks was the result!
What does SPfreaks offer The Smashing Pumpkins fan/collector and Community?
- A little history of nearly everything ever released officially or unofficially
- Autographs, Awards, Backstage Passes, Blue Ray Disks, Books, Cassettes (Official and Unofficial), CD’s (Official, Unofficial and Tribute), clothing (Official and Unofficial), DATs, DVDs (Official and Unofficial), Flyers, Guitar picks and Drum Sticks, Legal Documents, Magazines, Minidisks, Order Forms, Concert Posters, Promo Posters, Press Kits, Promo Flats and Trade ads, Promo Post Cards, Setlists, Tickets( Concert), Tour Books, USBs, VCDs (Official and Unofficial), Videos, Vinyl (Official and Unofficial), Virtual Music and even Miscellaneous items!
SPfreaks needs you to keep this site going. Send us your research, help us to make this website the most comprehensive graphical resource for Smashing Pumpkins items. Whether it be Awards or Posters. Tickets or Vinyl. Press Kits. Clothing. Please contact us, we are happy to hear from you!
Twitter – @SPfreaks
Email – spfreaks@gmail.com
After all, art is not merely an investment, it’s a love affair!
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Tis The Season of Giving! by Geo Folkers
Never forgetting how important it is to give, The Smashing Pumpkins over the years have given above and beyond. My research and attempt to put together a list will fall short. So much generosity has been lost in the shuffle. As fans, the Pumpkins have taken us on a journey. They’ve made us question our sanity and shown us real beauty. They are leaders. Leaders of self discipline. Leaders in music and art. Leaders of love and humanity. A band that continues to give back. Below is a brief list of some benefits and charities The Smashing Pumpkins have blessed with their attention and generosity.
Fall 2011- American Tour- Each ticket sold helps support respected charities including, Music Drives Us, Oxfam America and others
Fall 2011- Billy Corgan helps out the MDA telethon on WGN9
July 2011- Donated Items for auction to benefit MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation
June 2011- $1705 Raised for The Pioneer Valley Red Cross, for tornadoes that struck Western Massachusetts
April 2011- Billy Corgan donates one of the four original handmade Zero shirts, Proceeds go to the Red Cross support victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan
May 2011- Billy Corgan helps with the seventh annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert
September 2010- Money raised for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund by raffling off a Billy Corgan Fender Stratocaster
July 2010- Benefit concert for Matthew Leone at the Metro, raised over $80,000
February 18, 2010- Benefit Concert for the 10th Anniversary North Shore University Health System’s Integrated Medicine program
October 21, 2009- Gish era instruments auctioned off for Laura Masura (Former head of SP fan club), raised over $11,000
Summer 2009- auction for a lunch with Billy Corgan, Proceeds go to Songwriters Hall of Fame, raised $10,000
October 26, 2008- The Bridge School Benefit Concert,
Spring 2008- Billy Corgan talks on behalf of Halfofus.com. Raises awareness for suicide and depression
November 2007- Billy Corgan Donates a signed Zeitgeist poster, 100 percent of the proceeds go to victims of California wildfires
November 2006- SP Tribute CD- Act IV Ghost Children- Friends and Enemies, all proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois
July 2001- SP Tribute CD- Act IV Ghost Children- all proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois
December 20,21 1999- Two food bank benefits at the Caboret Metro, Chicago
October 30,31 1999- The Bridge School Benefit Concert,
March 25, 1999- The First Waltz, Billy Corgan chipped in and played a benefit for Neon Street
August 8, 1998- Miami, Florida- $114,570 raised for the Center for Children in Crisis
August 6, 1998- Charlotte, North Carolina- $103,240 raised for the Elon Homes for Children
August 5, 1998- Nashville, Tennessee- $130,290 raised for the W. O. Smith Nashville Music School
August 4, 1998- Atlanta, Georgia- $127,608 raised for Reach
August 1,2, 1998- New York, New York- $419,575 raised for the Hale House
July 31, 1998- Boston, Massachusetts- $109,200 raised for the Children’s AIDS Program
July 29, 1998- Washington DC- $123,200 raised for The City Lights School
July 28, 1998- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- $124,160 raised for the Cramp Community Reading Center
July 20, 1998- Toronto, ONT- $126,087 raised for Street Outreach Services
July 12, 1998- Huston, Texas- $115,720 raised for Huston’s Children’s Charities
July 10, 1998- Dallas, Texas- $116,560 raised for The Family Place
July 8, 1998- Detroit, Michigan- $100,000 raised for HAVEN
July 7, 1998- Chicago, Illinois- $500,000 raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Illinois
July 1,2, 1998 Los Angeles, California- $432,261 raised for Five Acres
June 30, 1998 San Francisco, California- $170,590 raised for the East Bay Agency for Children
October 18,19 1997- The Bridge School Benefit Concert
February 20,21,27,28 1995- Double Door, four shows, tickets were $5 and all proceeds went to charity
Let this be an example to live by. This list is just a sample of what the Smashing Pumpkins have done. A lot of things have happened behind the scenes and continue to. Let us all give thanks and remember our neighbors. There are so many people that need help from food, to clothing, to a hug. It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference in someones life. A special thanks to The Smashing Pumpkins! They inspire us all to make a positive change in our world!
Thank yous also go out to Jonathan Monte (MonteLDS) , Linda Dodge (linda1167) , Ashley Fahey, Jon Steele, David Pukin, Bartosz Odrzywolek, Michael Berrios, Charmaine Turner, Robbie Sacunas and Pixie Joi. These good SP fans chipped in with some great info.
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The diversity of the Smashing Pumpkins music in the mind of a BP/SP. by Corenski
Your lover has left you. It was not a mutual break-up. You’re Bipolar. Your favorite band is The Smashing Pumpkins. For the sake of simplification let’s call you a BP/SP, a Bipolar Smashing Pumpkin (fan). What do you do? Nothing consistent. If external stability is what you need to combat the inner turmoil, then you’ve chosen to follow the wrong band. Mainstream music journalists are happy to lump the Pumpkins beneath the umbrella term of “alternative”. Devoted fans understand that the Pumpkins are more difficult, if not impossible, to define using conventional genre labels. Even in their earliest effort, Nothing Ever Changes, it was not simple. They were a Cure-esque, sorta/kinda New Wave, goth-pop-rock group. Since then the entity known as the Smashing Pumpkins has existed in a constant state of flux, much like the mood of a Bipolar person.
Over the years, Psychedelic, Acoustic, Electronica, Heavy Metal, Synth-pop, Industrial, Shoegazer, and simple Pop-Rock, have all been tags attached to the band’s sound. They transcend classifications such as alternative or rock, much like Bipolar people often don’t fit clinical diagnoses such as depressive, or manic. Those suffering from Bipolar disorder can display a wide range of moods within a short time frame. These moods can be described as; sad, energetic, apathetic, lethargic, irrational, angry, charismatic, and unfortunately, reckless. This is precisely why the Pumpkins are a perfect band for a Bipolar person. No matter their mood, there is a song, or an entire album, that jives perfectly in sync with what they are feeling.
To return to the original scenario, a dedicated BP/SP has found themselves unexpectedly single. Their pillow is present to soak up any spontaneous tears spawned by sudden inexplicable suicidal urges, but that’s not enough. Naturally they turn to their favorite band, whose music (due to the diversity it offers), serves as a curative all-purpose fix for any situation. Stumbleine almost lulls them to sleep. A lovely, somberly-sweet melody that makes them lament the loss of their significant other. Yet somehow simultaneously the song makes them feel that the split was for the best. Maybe they’re still riding an adrenalin rush from the climax of Ruby (that come down’s always been rough). Or perhaps that pillow of theirs is simply too soft to resist. For the moment however, Stumbleine makes them believe that it’s ok to be heartbroken sometimes.
Then comes a hard rocking sonic shift, bombarding the subdued, love-sick BP/SP. Feelings of sadness, self loathing, lamentation, and possibly even forgiveness for the hater of their heart, are all but forgotten. X.Y.U. puts them more so in the mood for revenge. An anthem of angst churning disdain for the cause of their hurt, “and into the eyes of the jackal” they scream “the world owes me”. Out of tune lyrics are shrieked between cracks in their voice. They forbid themselves to weep any longer. They are overcome with rage yet at the same time the song is channeling their demons, funneling them out and away. “You don’t need her; you can do better than him.” Empowered, they feel they can conquer the pain of unrequited passion. Mental illness or not, they will solider on, they will… be reminded of how pathetic and empty they are. Beautiful, re-breaks their fragile BP/SP heart with a slide show of their former love’s face. This is but a short, fictitious documentation of what an SP listening experience can be like for a BP/SP. Personally, I have been an avidly obsessed SP fan for nearly 20 years, and a BP/SP for 10 to 13 years. Doctors describe my Bipolar disorder as “severe”, the same word friends use to describe my Pumpkin-fandom. I can only speculate as to what life is like for other BP/SPs. I am however, confident that others exist, and that “BP/SP” isn’t just a term I narcissistically coined to depict myself. Hypothetically thinking, even if I am the only BP/SP, there are still parallels to be drawn between me, and the SP fan base at large. Being a fan of the Pumpkins, and being bipolar are very similar. Sure, one is mental and one is musical, but inconsistency is what links the two. We’re always surprised by what comes next.
Throughout my days, I cannot hope to predict what the next hour will mean to me emotionally. For Pumpkin fans, imagine you’re listening to a new SP album for the first time, or remember back to your first listen of any album from the band’s discography. Just as I have no idea what mood I’ll be in next, SP fans have no idea what tone or style the next track on a new Pumpkins record will bring. The real question is (in terms of mood or music), will we like what’s next? When I enter into a low period, I don’t enjoy being depressed, mania is more fun. Mania can even be mistaken for happiness. Non-BP/SP fans don’t always enjoy every track on an album, or every era of the band’s evolution. In contrast to myself, (hating my lows and loving my highs) the average SP fan seems to embrace the band’s lows, and strongly dislike the band’s highs, i.e. depressing SP music (like Melon Collie) = good. Happy SP music (like Teargarden, or Zwan for that matter) = crap.
In my own experience, my disorder has perhaps made me a super SP fan. The reason for this is simple. You see, when I’m in a particular mood, I am deeply engrossed in that mood. Anything that matches my mind set, I unquestionably fall in love with. This zealous affair does not end when I veer towards another emotion. This has resulted in me developing an overly eclectic taste in music, my CD library hosting artists from nearly every genre. It also means that, I have an unrelenting love and appreciation for everything in the Pumpkins’ catalogue. Out of the hundreds of songs that Billy Corgan has wrote, there is but a hand full that I’m not completely in love with. I have never been taken off guard, nor have I, been skeptical of any new direction in which the band has taken.
I am in no way insinuating that one must be Bipolar to truly cherish the great SP’s full body of work. I am, however, suggesting that it might help. There are varying levels of fandom surrounding the band. Being as versatile as the Smashing Pumpkins are, it only makes sense that the appeal of their music is as far reaching as it is. From passive listener to memorabilia collector, there are no boundaries.
Causal listeners delight in singing along with the radio singles, but have never dabbled in the band’s album offerings. Gen-1 fans resist anything post Judas’ O. “Era-Fans”, are a strange breed, with rigid preferences and specific cutoff dates for how far their fandom runs, ie; the band ended in 1995-97, all else is tripe. “Genre-Fan” are uncommon, but do exist with well crafted mp3 playlists. They indulge in only one style of the Pumpkins. For example, Electronic/Industrial fans who love all Pumpkin songs that boarder those genres. It begins with The End is the Beginning is the End, and Eye. Then Adore’s electronic gems, any remixes available, and even select tracks from The Future Embrace. I’ve been told For God and Country is iffy territory. There is also the acoustic crowd. Folk followers who reject the electric. University taught me that there is an abundance of this hippie subculture.
The final sub-category of SP fans are the Ghost Children, those who must hear every new song released. Conservative estimates predict that the ranks of these hardest of hard-core fans have dwindled to as little as 10,000 in recent years. The band was building its fan base until around ‘95 or ‘96 when their legions of listeners peaked. Since then, it seems that every year has seen more of decline. I refuse to entertain the notion that this is because newer SP music is lacking in quality when compared to the older material. I believe Billy Corgan’s song writing abilities have never waned. The only thing that has changed over the years is the style of the music.
To be stagnant, is to be boring, doomed to be trapped in an endless cycle of reinventing the same album. Alas, the masses are ultimately uncomfortable with change. People get set in their ways. Their tastes and interests narrow, eventually plateauing so that they only like one genre or one era of music, and so brings me to my thesis; living with Bipolar disorder means that I have an infinitesimal amount of consistency in my life, and therefore I have no expectations of consistency for the rest of the world. One positive aspect about my disorder (perhaps the only positive thing about it), is that it has given me an oddly unique world view. In regards to the Pumpkins, I feel that I am more accepting of change, where as non BP/SP fans are not. This is partly the reason why so many have jumped off the Pumpkin-wagon over the years. The evolving musical style of the band has alienated many fans along the way. The same people also feel downright betrayed by the rotating line up of band members, but that’s an entirely different topic.
My final question is, if the hardliner Pumpkin fans do indeed only number around 10,000 then how many of us could be classified as BP/SP? Honestly though, how many? Keep in mind, we do follow a perpetually experimental Pisces who changes his musical style every other year. There’s also his ever changing mind, fashion, band members, and band names. From The Marked to Backwards Clock Society, we are the few who have held on, and we will never let go. Others have found Mr. Corgan’s antics to be frustrating, and too much bother or drama to follow. The faithful 10,000, and we the BP/SP among them, have always been left entertained by each new metamorphosis and more importantly, we always want more.
As I await the release of Oceania, I am filled with anticipation. No matter what the album sounds like, I will love it. Maybe not immediately, but when the right mood eclipses my mind, I’ll fall in love, and Oceania will help through me something – I have no idea what; every album SP has ever made has enriched my life somehow. Truthfully, Billy Corgan’s music has saved me from myself more than once. Being Bipolar has not destroyed me. The disorder has not consumed me whole, because listening to the Smashing Pumpkins has made me believe that there are pieces of me that are worth holding onto. It’s made me not feel ashamed of my feelings, and that is something I really needed, and continue to need. I am a proud BP/SP! For that, I hope to have the opportunity to thank Billy in person someday.
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The Smashing Pumpkins online: By Scotty
In this post I am going to cover some of the best sites online to find Smashing Pumpkins information. The first place that most new Smashing Pumpkins fans usually go to look for info on the band is the band’s official website, www.smashingpumpkins.com. It has some good stuff, like free music from the Teargarden By Kaleidyscope project, links to the official Pumpkins pages on Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter, as well as official videos and an active message board. If you’re a new fan and you’re looking for more, you’ll have to turn to Smashing Pumpkins fan sites.
The short list of fan sites and descriptions below is not meant to be definitive. In fact, there are dozens and maybe even hundreds of active fan websites on the internet, not only in English speaking countries, but all over the world. The sites below are just a few, but they’re some of the most active, interesting or infamous sites on the band. They represent the best starting places for fans seeking out more about the band or the band’s fan communities.
New Smashing Pumpkins fans who spend some time looking online will find that not only does the band have a massive catalog of music and storied history, but that the band has a very active and vocal fan base – one that has, for over two decades, fostered a sense of community around the band that is unlike any other. If you haven’t visited the fan websites listed below, we hope you do soon. There is more information online about The Smashing Pumpkins than you can imagine.
Think of spfc.org as an archive of everything Smashing Pumpkins. For years it has been THE source for Smashing Pumpkins information online. The site houses a massive amount of Pumpkins information, everything from tour history to guitar tabs. Have you ever wondered how many shows the band played in 1988? (The answer is 14). Want the bass tabs for a couple of hundred Pumpkins songs? Spfc.org has it. Have you been looking for bio information on the band? You can find that too at spfc.org, including bios for touring members and producers, like Flood. Want lyrics to a Pumpkins or Zwan song? They’re all there, including rare tunes like Medellia of the Gray Skies or new songs like Owata. How many songs are there in the spfc.org songlist? Take a look, because you’ll probably never guess! Spfc.org is so rich in archive information that you may find yourself getting lost in the site. It is the definitive source for just about everything Pumpkins.
Bystarlight.org is a photo archive site. With new photos uploaded regularly by fans, as well as photos from previous online photo archives, bystarlight.org has quickly become a uniquely thorough source for Pumpkins-related photos. The archive on the site is organized by “era” and currently includes over 9000 photos, including still shots of the band, promotional artwork, fan photos from live shows and even memorabilia. There’s also a blog-styled ‘Updates’ page that provides info to fans regarding the status and development of the photo archive.
Bystarlight.org is growing every day. You won’t find another fan site like it anywhere. If you have Pumpkins related photos that you would like to contribute to the archive, check out the FAQ page.
Thepumpkins.net is an online “community” that includes not only a traditional fan website, but also a blog, photo and artwork archive, guitar tabs, fan videos and internet bulletin board. It’s a great starting point for new fans who want to explore a portion of the online SP fan community.
Ozphoria an Australian Smashing Pumpkins fan community that’s been online since 2002. The site follows current news of the band as well as past Pumpkins members. While the site is a great place for fans down under, it’s also a great website for fans all over the world. The site is organized around a blog that is updated regularly, and it includes a very active message board where fans discuss everything Smashing Pumpkins.
“Besides being a portal to other quality Pumpkins related sites STARLA.org serves as a host for a collection of unique sub sites with excellent content. Despite some of them being outdated, they still provide excellent source of information.”
“The SPLRA was formed and began operating full-scale September 1, 1997. It’s main focus at that time was to record as much as possible of the Smashing Pumpkins adore promotional tour.” Splra.org today exists as an online Wiki that continues to compile Smashing Pumpkins recordings.
Not to be confused with spfreak.com (a Southpark fan site). spfreaks.com “was set up in 2003 based on an idea of 3 major international collectors of Smashing Pumpkins memorabilia.” While the site continues today as a kind of hub or clearing house for serious SP collectors, it’s also a fun place for new fans to poke around as well.
-Scotty