Who wants that honey, as long as there's some money?

June 19, 2007 6:00 AM

Vieuphoria -- released in 1994 by the Smashing Pumpkins, this VHS video documents Billy Corgan and company just as they were on the verge of becoming megastars. Some clips from youtube: The Pumpkins in therapy and performing Mayonaisse, Disarm, Quiet, Soma , Cherub Rock, Today , Geek City USA, and the epic Silverfuck. And a bonus classic Pumpkins performance -- Drown
posted by empath (54 comments total)

I loved me some Gish, but a I'm a little ambivalent on the later stuff. Pretty good, at last, nice finds.

Rumors of the day were the Billy was such an egomaniac/narcissist/perfectionist, that he re-recorded everyone else's parts (save Jimmy Chamberlin's) on Siamese Dream. Never heard that confirmed, however.
posted by psmealey at 6:08 AM on June 19, 2007

I believe the track is simply titled "Geek USA."

By far one of their best, though.
posted by King Bee at 6:11 AM on June 19, 2007

Smashing Pumpkins are one of those bands who I can't understand why I ever liked. Very of the moment: Gish & Siamese Dream sounded good at the time, but then...biggest quality nosedive ever?
posted by dydecker at 6:11 AM on June 19, 2007

I'm with you on Siamese Dream, dydecker, but Gish still holds up to me as a great quasi-shoegaze record, right alongside Mezcal Head, Loveless and Nowhere.
posted by psmealey at 6:16 AM on June 19, 2007

I'm with you on Siamese Dream, dydecker, but Gish still holds up to me as a great quasi-shoegaze record, right alongside Mezcal Head, Loveless and Nowhere.

Ah, good times.

Still, Adore is a pretty amazing record, even with a drum machine.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:22 AM on June 19, 2007

I saw them at the 9:30 club in DC right around the time that Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness came out. They did an acoustic set in pajamas for an hour first (except D'arcy was in a Prom dress), and then came back and rawked the fuck out for 2 or 3 more hours. They basically played every song off of Melon Collie and Siamese Dream, a few of the b-sides and even some Gish tracks. It was kind of a warm-up set for the arena tour they were about to go on.

This was back in the days where you actually had to buy CDs and you listened to them over and over and over and over again, until you have ever lyric and guitar solo written on your heart, and I definitely had done that with the Pumpkins CDs and a tape that a girl that I had a huge crush on had put together for me of Earphoria and some other bootleg pumpkins stuff.

I don't think there's any thing better than being 20 feet from the stage, seeing a band that you've been obsessed with, at an age when you're still able to see rock stars as gods.
posted by empath at 6:23 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

biggest quality nosedive ever?

Um, no. That would be Stevie Wonder.

How anyone could go from making four of the most important albums of all time to making 'Ebony and Ivory' and 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' is beyond me.
posted by chuckdarwin at 6:24 AM on June 19, 2007

I believe the track is simply titled "Geek USA."

Oh, so embarassing. You're right.
posted by empath at 6:25 AM on June 19, 2007

I don't wanna be the "your favorite band sucks" guy, but I always thought Billy Corgan had about the most obnoxious, nosebleed-inducing voice in rock, and that was before he revealed himself as a pretentious twit and started looking like the guy from Powder. On the other hand, the late '90s video where they "gothed out" was awesomely hilarious, whether it was intended to be or not, so I have to give them points for that.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:27 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

kittens, his voice was definitely an acquired taste... kind of like Marmite or instant coffee.
posted by chuckdarwin at 6:30 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

I don't wanna be the "your favorite band sucks" guy
You failed.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:30 AM on June 19, 2007

You know, based on my musical tastes (guitar-driven rock with intelligent lyrics) I should have been a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan. It just never happened for me. Maybe because the local rock radio stations played their "hits" ad nauseum and the fact that Billy Corgan makes Pete Townshend seem umpretentious. Not trying to say your favorite band sucks! Just adding my personal perspective.
posted by punkfloyd at 6:32 AM on June 19, 2007

Billy Corgan had about the most obnoxious, nosebleed-inducing voice in rock

Funny. To me he always sounded like Big Bird... which I personally found endearing.
posted by psmealey at 6:32 AM on June 19, 2007

wow kittens for breakfast, we are kindred spirits.
posted by punkfloyd at 6:33 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

we are kindred spirits.

You hate Billy Corgan? Me too!!! Let's go somewhere and not listen to Billy Corgan together.
posted by psmealey at 6:37 AM on June 19, 2007

You failed.

I'm sorry, Wolfdog, but sometimes your favorite band really DOES suck!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:39 AM on June 19, 2007

I remember when they were touring with Buffalo Tom. Opening. I still prefer Buffalo Tom who, as chances have it, have reformed and are touring.

This FPP will probably have me yank out Gish and give it another listen which I haven't done in 15 years or so. Thanks. I think.
posted by dobbs at 6:41 AM on June 19, 2007

For me, Siamese Dream will always recall for me times of great wonder, as I was about to become a father: ...walking through downtown Iowa City after having yet another parenting/prenatal class with my really, really pregnant wife; sitting in the dining room of our beautiful turn-of-the-century apartment unfortunately located in eastern Iowa's only neighborhood with a crack house; generally being recent college graduates and a drain on society and our families as a whole.

Sometimes I'd put Siamese Dream on repeat, and just let it play as background to my life. I can still tell you which track comes next.
posted by thanotopsis at 6:42 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

I still prefer Buffalo Tom who, as chances have it, have reformed and are touring.

God, this is a great thread.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:44 AM on June 19, 2007

I'm sorry, Wolfdog, but sometimes your favorite band really DOES suck!

I really wish this website had a feature that enabled people to skip threads about bands they don't like. Seems a fundamental failing of site design.
posted by psmealey at 6:46 AM on June 19, 2007 [2 favorites]

Haha, I own this movie on VHS. Yay 90s!
posted by thirteenkiller at 6:49 AM on June 19, 2007

I really wish this website had a feature that enabled people to skip threads about bands they don't like. Seems a fundamental failing of site design.

Also, Smashing Pumpkins is just a lame ripoff of Cowboy Bebop anyway, and I don't think Billy Corgan writes strong women. Done!
posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:55 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Siamese Dream: \m/
MACHINA: "I can't believe I used to like these guys!"

Also, Billy should have let James sing more.
posted by Dr-Baa at 6:58 AM on June 19, 2007

"Very of the moment".

Yeah, so explain the existence of Silversun Pickups, then.
posted by dvdgee at 7:03 AM on June 19, 2007

MACHINA: "I can't believe I used to like these guys!"

That was EXACTLY my reaction. Though I saw them live at that time and they still rawked, so, I dunno.
posted by empath at 7:14 AM on June 19, 2007

It's true that Corgan has a voice that could disinfect a toilet, but that bleeding screech had its uses. Can you imagine—I don't know—Karen Carpenter warbling her way through "1969?"

Wait. That would actually be pretty terrific.

Regardless, Corgan's voice was usually a decent fit for the the Pumpkins' music. It complemented their more abrasive songs, and it made for an interesting contrast with the lusher, more produced pieces like "Today." (It was, however, a terrible, terrible match for their cover of "Landslide," one of the embarrasments of the Alternative era).
posted by Iridic at 7:17 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Megastars?
posted by lalochezia at 7:25 AM on June 19, 2007

you know what?? i fucking love these guys. always have. always will. and nothing you can (and im certain, will) say could change that. their lyrics are poetry and the songs unique. and billys voice, being so different, is most of what got me listening in the first place.
ok, some of the newer stuff is weaker, but i still listen to them all the time. and still love them.
so what hes a prick. its not like i hang out with him or something. but when i met them a bunch of years back, when they were on SNL, they signed shit i shoved in their faces (james signed a dollar bill i had in my pocket and its still in my wallet to this day), were gracious and charming. they didnt have to be. it was after the show and i had my daddy get me backstage (works on the show). they just wanted to go home but they sat and chatted with me for more than a half hour.

fangirl? yeah....
posted by stackmonster at 7:32 AM on June 19, 2007

I'd never seen them do anything acoustic. That was cool.
posted by phrontist at 7:33 AM on June 19, 2007

Siamese Dream was such a great album -- the perfect soundtrack for long, dark nights driving around, generally getting into trouble, having no idea what the hell to do in life, and feeling completely alone in it.

(I feel a real urge to play it right now. Today is just that kind of day.)
posted by Kikkoman at 7:33 AM on June 19, 2007

My girlfriend loves to tell me the story about how her and her highschool friends used to hang out at the house the band practiced in during their early days. She told them they sucked.

I waited outside the Metro during a Chicago winter to see Zwan.

Mayonnaise is one of the best rock songs I've ever heard.
posted by ninjew at 7:44 AM on June 19, 2007

I like this "who took the biggest nosedive ever" side thread...I agree with chuckdarwin and really don't think that Stevie Wonder can be beat for this award, but I'll throw out a few more:

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Metallica
Black-eyed Peas
Beatles->Wings->Paul McCartney
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:53 AM on June 19, 2007

who took the biggest nosedive ever
Guns 'n' Roses -> imploded heap of wreckage
posted by Wolfdog at 7:58 AM on June 19, 2007

Biggest nosedives:
The Rolling Stones (long and painful to watch)
Natalie Merchant
Oasis
Pearl Jam
Roger Waters
Supertramp
The Cure
posted by punkfloyd at 8:01 AM on June 19, 2007

shit, how i loved ht at video growing up. the heavy version of disarm blew me away and i do believe my little brother put mayonnaise on every mixed tape he made from 97 to 01. live silverfuck is also pretty great. i wish i'd gotten to see them before they sucked.

it also introduced me to the frogs!
posted by es_de_bah at 8:18 AM on June 19, 2007

hey! that's not geek usa!
this is geek usa.
posted by es_de_bah at 8:31 AM on June 19, 2007

Speaking of nosedives, what in the fucking fuck happened to Liz Phair?

I REALLY can't believe I used to like her.
posted by Dr-Baa at 10:02 AM on June 19, 2007

Always liked the early pumpkins stuff Lull and Gish, even though my friends and I always called them "Smashing Addictions" because of the similarity in styles between them and same era Janes Addiction. Didn't stop us from learning and often playing most of the songs off of Gish though.

I think the biggest problem with the pumpkins later on was just lack of editing. It seemed like they must of released dozens and dozens of b-sides in the 90's, and it was just too much.

They were pretty awesome live at that time though. I saw one of the shows when they were touring on Siamese Dream and it was an excellent show.
posted by alikins at 10:16 AM on June 19, 2007

It seemed like they must of released dozens and dozens of b-sides in the 90's, and it was just too much.

I actually LOVED The Aeroplane Flies High, and that was all b sides.
posted by empath at 10:26 AM on June 19, 2007

what in the fucking fuck happened to Liz Phair?

Liz Phair grew up and realized that she wanted to be Avril Lavigne when she was young.
posted by psmealey at 10:29 AM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

what in the fucking fuck happened to Liz Phair?

Either she's on an extended tour down Irony Lane or one night about ten years ago she discovered a person-sized pod in her basement, and has never been heard from again...take your pick.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:34 AM on June 19, 2007

started looking like the guy from Powder.

ok, that was funny.

what in the fucking fuck happened to Liz Phair?

People woke up and realized that she was basically a whiny sorority sister, except she said 'fuck' a lot, which made her 'edgy.'
posted by jonmc at 10:34 AM on June 19, 2007

the perfect soundtrack for long, dark nights driving around, generally getting into trouble, having no idea what the hell to do in life, and feeling completely alone in it

Wow, I couldn't have said it better. They still evoke that feeling for me, which is why I guess I'll always have a soft spot for them. Damn nostalgia.
posted by treepour at 10:45 AM on June 19, 2007

started looking like the guy from Powder Uncle Fester.

Fixed that for you.
posted by psmealey at 11:13 AM on June 19, 2007

I don't wanna be the "your favorite band sucks" guy, but I always thought Billy Corgan had about the most obnoxious, nosebleed-inducing voice in rock, and that was before he revealed himself as a pretentious twit and started looking like the guy from Powder.

Pretentious twit maybe, but during the Adore the Pumpkins donated 100% of their profits from tickets sales to charity. And though Machina is loved by few, it actually came with instructions for making it available for free download (in 2000, when that was sort of unusual). That's cool.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:15 AM on June 19, 2007

Yeah, so explain the existence of Silversun Pickups, then.

Thank god someone else hears this. A track played on Sirius' Alt Nation the other week, and I swore it was the resurrection of the original Pumpkin sound.
posted by thanotopsis at 11:39 AM on June 19, 2007

Wow, lotsa memories flooding back here. For about nine months, circa '94-'95, I thought the Pumpkins were god's gift to rock and rock, not to mention depressed teenagers/college students. I saw them at Lollapalooza, and they rawked. Then, one day, I put on Siamese Dream and realized...well, it wasn't them, it was me. I'd moved on. Now the only song of theirs I wouldn't change the radio to avoid is 1979.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:51 PM on June 19, 2007

Another band I never saw the point of. The music is just.... regular... My life is too short for regular music.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 2:19 PM on June 19, 2007

My life is too short for regular music.

If I ever open an indie record shop, I'm totally stealing that.
posted by Dr-Baa at 2:22 PM on June 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

I was in my mid 20s when these guys hit it big in the 90s, these guys kind of struck me as appealing to a much younger crowd. I thought "Cherub Rock" and "Disarm" were great at the time, but sounded pretty dated when I heard them a couple weeks ago. Same goes for the rest of the album.

As for Gish, it's a step above the rest of their catalogue. I can't quite put it up there with Ride and the Swervies, but I'll put it on a par with popular "alt rock" albums of the day like Tromple le Monde, Bandwagonesque, Goo and the Supersonic Storybook.
posted by Tommy Gnosis at 2:29 PM on June 19, 2007

psmealey writes "Liz Phair grew up and realized that she wanted to be Avril Lavigne when she was young."

And Avril Lavigne will grow up someday and realize she wants to play music that appeals to someone over 19. Or not. Maybe she will just play with her gigantic piles of money.
posted by krinklyfig at 3:42 PM on June 19, 2007

i remember watching the crap out of "vieuphoria" back when it was released. i was just a teenager. my friends and i debated whether or not the therapy sessions were "real" or not. i still don't know to this day. any theories?
posted by fac21 at 3:04 AM on June 20, 2007

I don't think there's any thing better than being 20 feet from the stage, seeing a band that you've been obsessed with, at an age when you're still able to see rock stars as gods.

Well, I saw them last night in London, I was 6 feet from the stage (front and center!), and I still feel that way. Billy Corgan puts on a damn good show, is a damn good rockstar and I couldn't care less for the haters. I'm a very happy person today thanks to this.

(I also have the Vieuphoria video, great stuff when you're 14, slightly surreal when you're 22.)
posted by saturnine at 4:10 PM on June 20, 2007

what in the fucking fuck happened to Liz Phair?

People woke up and realized that she was basically a whiny sorority sister, except she said 'fuck' a lot, which made her 'edgy.'

Also, she realized she couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.

/hey, I'm just sayin'...
posted by zardoz at 6:58 AM on June 28, 2007