The Cabaret Metro in Chicago and its owner Joe Shanahan did their part in bringing together The Smashing Pumpkins. He gave the band their first residency (under the stipulation that they replace the drum machine) and managed their early career. The band consisted of guitarist James Iha, bassist D'Arcy Wretzky, and drum machine replacement Jimmy Chamberlain. The mastermind behind the band, however, was multi-instrumentalist, lead songwriter, and lead singer Billy Corgan. They formed in 1988 when Iha met Corgan at the record store where the latter worked. Their early music owed a heavy influence to the British post-punk / goth rock scene, but their sound changed drastically when Chamberlain became the group's last original member. The Smashing Pumpkins live shows and early recordings showed a melding of influences that included heavy metal, psychedelia, and post-punk.
Signed to Caroline Records, their debut album Gish came out in 1991 to moderate commercial and critical success. The album was produced by Butch Vig (who was simultaneously producing Nirvana's Nevermind to be released a couple months later). It also featured Corgan playing almost all the instruments on the record (save the drums) as he didn't see Iha and Wretzky as quite accomplished enough in their skills to gain the specific sound he wanted. Because of this, unrest already stirred in the band and Billy was seen by both the band members and the media as a musical tyrant. On the success of the album and its many singles, they toured and opened for the biggest alternate rock bands of the day: Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and (not-as-alternative) Guns N' Roses.
Here is the discography surrounding The Smashing Pumpkins's debut album:
Joliet Tape (1986 demo as The Marked)
1985-1987 Demos (1985-1987 demos as The Marked)
Snake Train Demo (1988 demo as Snake Train)
Live at The Cabaret Metro (1988 live recording)
October 1988 Live (1988 live recording)
Nothing Ever Changes (1988 demo)
Moon (1989 demo)
The Smashing Pumpkins (1989 demo)
March 1989 Live (1989 live recording)
Reel Time Studios (1989 studio sessions)
Reel Time Studios Acoustic (1989 studio sessions)
I Am One (1990 single)
Tristessa (1990 single)
Live at The Metro (1990 live album)
Gish
Siva (1991 single)
Lull (1991 EP)
Rhinoceros (1991 promo single)
Live in New Haven (1991 live bootleg)
I Am One (1992 single)
Daughter (1992 promo single)
Drown (1992 promo single)
Peel Sessions (1992 EP)
"Siva" by The Smashing Pumpkins
"Bury Me" by The Smashing Pumpkins
An Interview with Billy Corgan
Pass the Headphones!!
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