Smashing Pumpkins Summersault Farewell

Those looking for one more reason to head out to this year's Summersault tour just got a big one. It will likely represent the Smashing Pumpkins' last performances in Canada. Their label, Virgin Records Canada, would like to reassure fans that the band are committed to completing all scheduled tour dates.

In a week that has already seen Oasis' world turning to ashes with the touring departure of Noel Gallagher, head Pumpkin Billy Corgan revealed that he will be breaking up the Smashing Pumpkins with likely only one more album to be released.

Speaking to influential L.A. radio station KROQ, Corgan explained the decision had weighed on his mind the past few months and he felt the band had reached the end of the road, "emotionally, spiritually, musically."

"We thought about telling people when the last album [MACHINA/The Machines Of God] was going to come out, but then we thought it would be all about that and not about the music," said Corgan. "But now that the album is out, it's fine. We wanted to make one more album to leave things on a positive note."

The Pumpkins have essentially always been Corgan and although sales of their last two albums have been sluggish, he alluded to the possibility of one more album based on a collection of songs written during the MACHINA sessions. According to Virgin this wouldn't be a contractual obligation release.

The past couple of years have no doubt taken their toll in the Pumpkins camp, which has led to Corgan's baldness, a fatal heroin overdose of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, the firing and rehiring of original drummer Jimmy Chamberlain and finally to bassist D'Arcy quitting the band only to get busted for possession of crack.

Fans can say goodbye to Smashing Pumpkins on the Summersault tour, which runs:
August 4 Vancouver, BC @ BC Place
August 6 Edmonton, AB @ Commonwealth Stadium
August 7 Saskatoon, SK @ Saskatchewan Place
August 9 Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Stadium
August 11 Toronto, ON @ Barrie Molson Park
August 12 Montreal, QC @ parc Jean-Drapeau
August 13, Ottawa, ON @ Rideau Carleton Raceway
August 16 Halifax, NS @ Citadel Hill