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taken from billboard.com:
The Smashing Pumpkins have settled on the track list for "Zeitgeist," the first album since 2000. As previously reported, the album is due July 7 via Martha's Music/Reprise. A first single has yet to be specified, nor has the makeup of the band beyond original frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

"Is everyone afraid? Has everyone changed?," Corgan sings on opener "Doomsday Clock," a big, loud rocker in the vein of "Geek U.S.A." from "Siamese Dream." The set is frontloaded with songs of this ilk, hearkening back to the grunge era with detuned guitars and pounding drums on tracks such as "Tarantula," "Orchid" and "7 Shades of Black."

A more nuanced, less abrasive approach is evident on "Never Lost," which has vibraphone and organ tucked into the mix, while "For God and Country" is a bass-driven tune with shades of Depeche Mode-style synth-rock. The album closes with the mostly synth-powered "Pomp and Circumstance," as Corgan's multi-tracked vocals take on an angelic effect.

The band will play its first show in six-and-a-half years May 22 at the Grand Rex Theatre in Paris. European festival appearances will follow through mid-June; the Pumpkins' first U.S. show will be July 7 at the Live Earth concert in East Rutherford, N.J.
Here is the track list for "Zeitgeist":

"Doomsday Clock"
"7 Shades of Black"
"Orchid"
"That's the Way"
"Tarantula"
"Starz"
"United States"
"Never Lost"
"Bring the Light"
"Come On (Let's Go)"
"For God and Country"
"Pomp and Circumstance"

Mr. Iha himself has confirmed his absense from the reformed Smashing Pumpkins saying, "I'm not part of the current Smashing Pumpkins album or tour," claimed Iha. "I haven't spoken to Billy [Corgan] in years."

I don't think this comes as a shock.
Here are some articles:
Pitchfork
NME

taken from buddyhead.com

"Ok, now let’s talk some more about 90’s bands getting “back together”. “Smashing Pumpkins” are putting out a new record and playing some festivals this summer. The only thing is, what makes this any different than that Zwan bullshit we already endured? Same idea… bald vampire lookin whiner/singer dweeb with the 9-foot tall smack addict hippy drummer and a bunch of “other dudes”. The sketchiest part about this whole “reunion” thing though, is how the Pumpkins camp isn’t being too eager to announce who the two “not James Iha and D’arcy” people are. In case ya were wondering, the new bass player happens to be Ginger Reyes (formerly of the Halo Friendlies) and the guitar player is a dude named Jeff Schroeder (he used to be in some dorky Silverlake band called The Lassie Foundation). Siiiiiick dudes, real exciting! They originally tried out Eric Avery, but Billy didn’t think he could “keep up”. By the way, Bill… are you ever gonna admit that you and Courtney Love were banging when she was married to Kurt Cobain, and that this probably had more than just a smidge to do with homeboy checkin’ out early? Or is that one yer takin’ to the grave? C’mon dude… its like OJ still claiming his innocence. We all know the deal. Just fess up so us grunge babies can move on."

The Smashing Pumpkins are touring this summer in support of their new album, Zeitgeist, kicking off solo in Paris and spending the rest headlining fesitvals. Here are the current tour dates (taken from the official site):

05/22/2007 TBA Paris, France Grand Rex
Tickets on sale April 11th: http://www.legrandrex.com
Ticket information to be posted soon.

05/28/2007 8:00 PM Megaland, Landgraaf, Netherlands Pinkpop Festival
Tickets: http://www.pinkpop.nl

05/31/2007 8:00 PM Barcelona Primavera Sound 07
http://www.primaverasound.com

06/02/2007 8:00 PM Nürburgring Rock Am Ring Festival
Also playing: Linkin Park Beatsteaks Muse Billy Talent Mando Diao Evanescence Wir Sind Helden Korn Slayer Dave Matthews Band The Hives Arctic Monkeys My Chemical Romance Kaiser Chiefs Jan Delay & Disko No. 1 Mia. The Kooks Wolfmother Stone Sour. For more info. go to: www.rock-am-ring.com

06/03/2007 8:00 PM Nürburgring Rock Im Park Festival
Also playing: Linkin Park Beatsteaks Muse Billy Talent Mando Diao Evanescence Wir Sind Helden Korn Slayer Dave Matthews Band The Hives Arctic Monkeys My Chemical Romance Kaiser Chiefs Jan Delay & Disko No. 1 Mia. The Kooks Wolfmother Stone Sour. For more info. go to: www.rock-am-ring.com

06/09/2007 8:00 PM Lisbon Lisbon Festival (http://www.everythingisnew.pt/)

06/15/2007 8:00 PM Nickelsdorf Nova Rock Festival
For more info go to: http://www.novarock.at/ Also playing: Marilyn Manson, Pearl Jam, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Incubus, Slayer, Billy Talent, Mando Diao, The Hives, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Children of Bodom, Flogging Molly, Mastodon, and more!

06/16/2007 8:00 PM Venice Heineken Fetsival
With Aerosmith, Incubus and more. For more info. go to: http://www.heineken.it/hjf/
www.ticketone.it (ticket link) or www.milanoconcerti.net

6/17/2007 8:00 PM Interlaken Greenfields Festival
Also playing: Marilyn Manson, Incubus, Slayer, Bullet for my Valentine, The Hives, Flogging Moily, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Navel, Snitch.......For more details go to: www.greenfieldfestival.ch

8/4 - 8/5 TBA Baltimore, MD Virgin Festival- Pimlico Race Course
The Smashing Pumpkins will be headlining The Virgin Festival at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD the weekend of August 4-5 along with the Police. Full line up will be announced soon. Check out www.virginfestival.com/2007/index.html for more information.

8/24/2007 TBA Leeds Leeds Festival - Bramham Park
The Smashing Pumpkins will headline Leeds Festival on Friday, August 24th. Other bands playing include Nine Inch Nails, Lostprophets, Fall Out Boy, Funeral for a Friend and +44. Tickets available now by calling 0870 060 3775 or online at meanfiddler.com & seetickets.com. Also check out www.readingfestival.com & www.leedsfestival.com

8/26/2007 TBA Reading Reading Festival - Richfield Avenue
The Smashing Pumpkins will headline Leeds Festival on Friday, August 24th. Other bands playing include Nine Inch Nails, Lostprophets, Fall Out Boy, Funeral for a Friend and +44. Tickets available now by calling 0870 060 3775 or online at meanfiddler.com & seetickets.com. Also check out www.readingfestival.com & www.leedsfestival.com


9/8/2007 TBA Montreal Osheaga Festival
Pre-sale tickets for the Osheaga Festival on 9/8 in Montreal will be on sale starting tomorrow Tuesday, April 3rd at noon PST through Friday, April 6th. Click on the link below to purchase yours!

http://www.admission.com/adm/Osheaga_Smashing.htm


9/9/2007 TBA Toronto, Canada Virgin Festival - Toronto Island Park
The Smashing Pumpkins headlining on Sunday, September 9th, 2007!
Gates: 1pm - All Ages
Tickets: Two-day tickets are $125.00 (including all sales taxes), plus $1.00 for Virgin Unite and $12 for the ferry to and from Toronto Island.
Available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.ca, Rotate This, Soundscapes, or by calling (416) 870-8000.
Onsale Saturday March 24th 10am
Support = The Killers, and many more!
http://www.virginfestival.ca/

There is an exclusive ticket pre-sale for YOU, the Pumpkins fans! Just click on this link Tuesday at 10am EST:
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/promo/7rnm22
The pre-sale password is: ZEITGEIST

After a little bit of a hiatus, SP|Reborn is back! School has been busy as well as studying for the LSAT, but too much has been happening on the Pumpkins front to ignore! So here's the latest news:
Jimmy is posting his "love letters" on myspace. (Links coming soon.)
Join the "queen bee" in creating Pumpkins art. (more coming soon.)
.....and lots of new articles with links coming soon.

Geek U.S.A. is covered on a cover album by Between the Buried and Me along with covers from Queen, Soundgarden, Pink Floyd, and many others. This is what Punknews.org had to say about the Geek U.S.A. cover:
" I never really liked "Geek USA" by Smashing Pumpkins, but listening to this song is like listening to Billy and Co. on steroids. When I said "impressionist" earlier, I wasn't kidding. Tommy's Corgan is dead on. It comes off as a great hard rock / metal song and takes one of the top spots on the disc."

Sorry for the delay in posting this, but here is some great news. It seems that Melissa Auf Der Mar and Eric Avery both want the job as bassist for the Pumpkins, and Avery has been rehearsing with Billy and Jimmy (that seems like the choice is already made to me). Here are a few ariticles related to the story:
Dose
PR Inside
Ultimate Guitar

Rumors are circulating that Billy might be on VH1's The Surreal Life. I doubt it, though, but here is a link anyway. The Stranger

Billy showed up at the MVPA awards probably giving away the Smashing Pumpkins Kratz Award for Creative Excellence. Here's the link, Yahoo!

is Courtney Love. This from PerezHilton.com:
"Only in Hollywood would you find a scenario quite as funny as this.

It seems like comeback queen Courtney Love and her former fiancee, Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan, are living together.

However, the two are not dating insist our music industry insiders.

Corgan is working with Love and Linda Perry on Courtney's new album, which she describes as her best work since the critically acclaimed Live Through This.

"Billy's been living with Courtney for over a month now," a source tells PerezHilton.com. "He has his own wing. His own maid. He lives there and his girlfriends come over and they're a big happy family."

They need their own reality show!"

...interesting

Billy performed with Courtney Love and Linda Perry April, 29, debuting some of Love's new songs. They performed for a benifit concert at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Los Angeles.
Here is the full story from NME.

They all pretty much say the same thing, but here they are:

Post Chronicle
CBC
CMJ
Undercover Music
Glide Magazine
Virgin
PunkNews
MTV
Chicago Tribune
Spin

and they just go on and on....

Have a look for yourself.

www.smashingpumpkins.com

Here's a new picture of Billy with Courtney in L.A. taken from perezhiton.com. Here's what the caption says: Courtney Love love reunited with some of the important men in her life in Los Angeles recently, including famed photographer David La Chappelle and former beau and collaborator Billy Corgan at The Gore Vidal Trilogy opening reception dinner. C. Love cleans up so well!!

I'm trying something new here. I'm starting a Smashing Pumpkins blog. What I would like to do is let whoever is interested and whoever would do a good job be a part of this blog. You can blog whatever you want as long as it is related to the Pumpkins, or we can have other categories also. I just need a few people to start blogging. Everyone can comment of course, but right now you have to register to do that. If you are interested please e-mail me.

SP|R Blog

I know it's a little late. You've already heard the Pumpkins aren't doing Lollapalooza. We do have another rumor though. Conan O'Brien is taping his show in Chicago soon and there is a rumour Corgan might be a possible guest.

Aside from that, here's an interesting bit of info from E!Online. It's a story about Courtney Love selling off some of her stake in her late husband's catalog, but at the end it mentions this:
"She's also resuming her own music career. Love is in the studio recording a follow-up to her 2004 solo album, America's Sweetheart. Linda Perry, Moby and Billy Corgan are pitching in, with the latter joining Love for a track called, aptly enough, "How Dirty Girls Get Clean."

So we have a title.

Chicago Sun-Times
THE GOD FACTOR
"Two years ago, "The God Factor" began as a series of long-form spiritual profiles of public people in the pages of the Chicago Sun-Times. Religion reporter Cathleen Falsani has expanded the series into a book, The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People, which will be published Tuesday by Sarah Crichton Books/Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

The book contains 32 spiritual profiles of well-known personalities including Bono, Billy Corgan, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Robbins, Jonathan Safran Foer, Annie Lennox, Sandra Cisneros, John Mahoney, Sandra Bernhard, Harold Ramis, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dusty Baker, Barry Scheck, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Seamus Heaney, John Patrick Shanley and Elie Wiesel. "

Here's the Amazon link

From the Lollapalooza website:
"Lollapalooza sizzle is officially on March 16th, when we release the super-colossal-out-of-this-world 130-band lineup. You won't believe it, but it's for true."
Lollapalooza official site

We'll be on the look out here at SPR for more reliable rumors as to the possibility of the Pumpkins reforming at Lollapalooza. Or we could just wait until the 16th. But hopefully we'll know before then.

From Billy:

Back From the Dead

I'm sure you are all well aware of my unpredictable behavior by now with my random disappearances, but I have once again returned. Although I do leave for long spurts of time, I always come back, and I promise you I will always come back with a fucken bang! Just trust me this once and you shall soon see what I have in store for all of you.........

love/bc

From MTV News
Smashing Pumpkins Reunion Is Under Way, According To Sources
Rumors of a Smashing Pumpkins reunion have been rife ever since bandleader Billy Corgan took out a full-page ad in a Chicago newspaper saying he wants the group to re-form. And according to onetime Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur as well as a source close to the situation, the rumors are true.

In fact, Auf Der Maur said Corgan has been working on material that will, at some point, surface in the form of a new Smashing Pumpkins album.

"From what I understand, Billy [will be] making a Pumpkins record over the next little while," Auf Der Maur told MTV News last week. "Everyone knows Billy doesn't need too many people to make a Pumpkins record, other than Jimmy [Chamberlin, longtime Pumpkins drummer] — who he has [on board]."

A spokesperson for Azoff Management confirmed Thursday (February 2) that Corgan and Chamberlin have signed on with the firm as Smashing Pumpkins, and that the two are writing new music. A source close to the situation told MTV News that the duo plan to record over the summer and that the new Pumpkins could surface before the end of the year — however, no definitive plans are set.

Auf Der Maur said she's not sure whether Corgan has reached out to guitarist James Iha or bassist D'Arcy Wretzky to complete the band's original lineup, but she said she's told Corgan that she'd be happy to pitch in if he needs her; Auf Der Maur replaced Wretzky in 1999 and worked with the group until it disbanded in 2000 (see "Pumpkins Circus Folds Up With Epic Show").

"My services are there for him whenever he needs them," she said. "Assuming I'm not on tour — but even then, we can cross paths. I love the Pumpkins, and to play those songs again would be nothing but fun for me. It was a big part of my life."

Still, Auf Der Maur said it wouldn't be a true Pumpkins reunion without D'Arcy's bass.
Read the rest here.

From Billboard
Lollapalooza Returning To Chicago Park

Ray Waddell, Nashville
It appears Lollapalooza will return to Hutchinson Field at Chicago's Grant Park, with dates tenatively set for Aug. 4-6. Lollapallooza is produced by Austin, Texas-based Capital Sports & Entertainment and Charles Attal Presents, who also stage the annual Austin City Limits Festival in September.

The lineup for the event won't be announced for weeks, but Chicago media reports have suggested a primary target for a headliner is Smashing Pumpkins, who are making rumblings about a reunion. Thievery Corporation told Billboard.com last week it would be on hand for the festival.

Chicago promoters Jam Productions, on the other hand, appear to have been stymied in their attempt to stage a multi-band festival at Grant Park this summer. "I tried for six months," Jerry Mickelson, co-president of Jam with partner Arny Granat, tells Billboard.biz. "The park district would not give me dates. I'm more than disappointed."

Mickelson says Jam "blazed the trail" for producing events in Grant Park, dating back to 2001. "Now Jam is unable to get dates from the Park District and I've given up because it's too late," he says. "This is anti-competitive. As far as I'm concerned Arny and I and Jam have a right as Chicago taxpayers to rent Park District space, but yet we are being excluded. We're shut out."
Representatives from the Park District could not be immediately reached for comment.

Similar articles:
Contact Music
How the rumor was started - Chicagoist (interesting)

New Management Deal?
From Blabbermouth
According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, Jared Paul and Paul Geary have snagged the reactivated SMASHING PUMPKINS for the Irving Azoff management empire (VAN HALEN, EAGLES, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, FLEETWOOD MAC, JEWEL, AEROSMITH).

As previously reported, SMASHING PUMPKINS are rumored to be a primary target for a headliner at this year's Lollapalooza festival, which will return to Hutchinson Field at Chicago's Grant Park, with dates tenatively set for Aug. 4-6, according to Billboard.com.

The lineup for the event won't be announced for weeks. THIEVERY CORPORATION told Billboard.com last week they would be on hand for the festival.

SMASHING PUMPKINS mainman Billy Corgan promised that he would reform the band last June. In a recent posting on his web site, Corgan wrote, "The surprise I have in store for you all will be announced soon enough..." No other details about the potential reunion have surfaced.

From the Chicago Tribune
Pumpkins reunion rumor is smashed

Greg Kot
Published January 27, 2006

A San Diego alternative rock station announced that the Smashing Pumpkins would reunite on the second day of the Coachella music festival in California in April, then had to take it all back in an on-air announcement Thursday.

"We got duped. They're not doing it," said 91-X (XTRA-FM) music director Marco Collins, who said he spoke to singer Billy Corgan's label, Reprise Records. "Reprise said that for whatever reason Billy backed out of it."

A Reprise spokesman said, "We never knew they were in to back out."

Corgan could not be reached for comment, but rumors about the band's reappearance have abounded since the singer announced last summer that he intended to "renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins." Stories of the band's rumored Coachella appearance have circulated on the Internet and have been published in NME, a British music magazine.

The lineup for the April 29-30 festival will be announced Monday, but Collins said it won't include the Pumpkins. "This info is everywhere, even in the guise of a [concert promoter] press release, and I feel like an idiot for believing it," he said.

Here's what Blabbermouth.net has to say:
"According to World Entertainment News Network, Billy Corgan's desperate attempts to reform the SMASHING PUMPKINS have reportedly paid off, with the band rumored to be playing at this April's Coachella festival in California."
Read the rest of the article here

Here is another article on that from Dos.

And another from NME.com

P.S. The concert poster is a fake and the Pumpkins are not officially confirmed to play. We'll cross our fingers though.

Howard Stern played "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" on his show today coming back from a break. This prompted discussion among Stern and the others about Billy. They all said it was a good song with Stern saying that Billy's ability must have come from his hair because after he shaved it off, the Pumpkins went to hell. That's paraphrased of course. They then mocked the fact that he wrote poetry. The rest of the show was pretty good though.

Another JT Leroy article in the San Francisco Chronicle mentions Mr. Corgan in regards to his friendship with Leroy. Here is the quote:
"Meanwhile, LeRoy e-mailed that he's bound for Sundance to DJ for an event there, and is looking forward to taking his pal Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins to tour the set of "Deadwood," where LeRoy hung out a few months ago. "
Read the rest of the article

Some of the biggest names in hard rock — including members of such acts as METALLICA, KORN, LINKIN PARK, SLIPKNOT, MUDVAYNE, ROB ZOMBIE, DISTURBED — have joined forces for an amazing art exhibit in remembrance of late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and to support music education.

Set to debut at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, California, "Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute" will include the following:

* A collection of 50 guitars, hand-painted by world-famous rock stars and internationally known modern artists.

* A charitable art auction to benefit a foundation dedicated to music, education and improving the lives of today’s youth.

* A travelling entertainment attraction hitting major U.S. markets in 2006.

* A highly-publicized tour that will feature an art opening party and VIP reception in each city attended by participating artists, press, celebrities and entertainment industry personel.

This exhibit promises to be of massive popular appeal, as well as a great story for the music, art and mainstream media. Platinum-selling artists such as Rob Zombie, Moby, Billy Corgan, KORN, Dave Navarro, VAN HALEN, Kirk Hammett of METALLICA, Dave Grohl of FOO FIGHTERS and NIRVANA and SUM 41 have already signed on and the list of impressive artists is growing.

"Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute" will debut at Winter NAMM in Anaheim, California before heading off on tour to major U.S. markets. The guitars will be auctioned off with proceeds going to a foundation dedicated to furthering music education.
Read the rest of the article here.

Thanks to the heads-up from Doug, a loyal site visitor, here is some information about the future of the Pumpkins from the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
"While performing at various 'drum clinics' across Europe in September 2005 Jimmy Chamberlain confirmed that both a reunion tour and a new album are being planned for 2006. Both he and Billy Corgan have committed to the reunion with planning to begin in February 2006. Although, the band has not announced a new bassist or guitarist as of January 2006."

There is some hope.
Read the rest of the article here.

Up-and-coming rockers focus on what really matters in music
By Caitlin Cowan, Daily Arts Writer
"It was around the time Smashing Pumpkins frontman and overstuffed asshole Billy Corgan declared he “literally created the biggest band in the world” in his August 2005 interview with Spin that music fans officially tired of self-important rock stars. Come on Billy. You’re not John Lennon, and you’re not Robert Plant.

The Pumpkins were doubtlessly pioneers in the ’90s, but rock fans the world over are exhausted with the over-inflated egos of their favorite stars. Corgan is only one among many."
Read the article here.
(not worth archiving)

Lucas Punkari from ltvnews.com put The Future Embrace on his best of the year list. Here is what he said:
12. Billy Corgan - The Future Embrace 4/5: I think I may be the only person alive who enjoyed this album. Sort of a follow up to The Smashing Pumpkins Adore album, this was a very good listening experience if you weren't expecting Siamese Dream II. (DIA and Walking Shade)
Read the article here.

Here's a good story Billy is semi-involved in with the writer JT Leroy, for which The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, the movie based on his work, Billy did some music to.

Read the Times article.

Rob Thomas has a cover of 1979 on itunes.
I haven't had a chance to listen to this song yet, but if anyone has e-mail me and comment on it and I'll post it below.

The Des Moines Register as well as some other online critics have named Billy Corgan's The Future Embrace one of the worst albums of the year. Here's an excerpt from the Register:

"WORST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: Billy Corgan, "The Future Embrace"; Crazy Frog, "Presents Crazy Hits"; Peter Gallagher, "7 Days in Memphis"; Vanilla Ice, "Platinum Underground"; and Billy Joel, "My Lives" (box set)."
Read the rest here.
In the same list as Crazy Frog and Vanilla Ice?
Please...

Where Boys Fear to Tread:

Unlocking Your Feminine Side with Billy Corgan
by Kevin Davis

Camaraderie
It may seem a concept both hokey and archaic in this age of the diversified arts and the War Against Cliché, but it's sure as beans been an underlying force in every worthwhile life experience I've ever had, be it personal, communal, or in this case, musical.

I was sitting in the nose-bleed section of the University of Illinois Assembly Hall back in October of 1996, attempting to somehow shield my eyes from an obnoxiously blinding red light that seemed to be conveniently shining solely on our row while still managing to retain full view of the stage. It wasn't an easy task, but if you cocked your head at the correct angle, the red light reflected off Billy Corgan's bald head and shiny silver pants in a manner that flattered him a duality of both Glorified King of Rock and Big Bald Angel of Death. But them's details; it was our first concert, and having to participate in a little cornea endurance test was the least we could do to pay our entry fee into the world of rock and roll.

Read the rest at Rockbeatstone