The Smashing Pumpkins take the stage at MGM Grand Garden Arena on October 30, 2026. 

The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the most influential alternative rock bands to come out of the late 1980s and 1990s.

They were formed in Chicago in 1988 by frontman Billy Corgan, and became a defining band of the alternative rock era, especially during the MTV-driven 90s rock boom.

 A signature sound that blends heavy guitar distortion, dreamy atmospheres, and layered production. 

 A mix of styles: alternative rock, grunge, shoegaze, and even orchestral elements

Emotional, often introspective lyrics, their biggest albums include:

• Siamese Dream (1993) — widely considered their breakthrough masterpiece
• Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) — a massive double album with hits and deep cuts
• Adore (1998) — darker, more electronic and experimental
• Machina / The Machines of God (2000) — concept-driven rock album

Their biggest songs include:

• 979”
• “Tonight, Tonight”
• “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”
• “Today”
• “Disarm”

The band broke up in 2000, later reunited in various forms, and continues today with Billy Corgan as the only constant original member.  Despite lineup changes, they still tour and release new music.

The Smashing Pumpkins helped define what 90s alternative rock sounded like—mixing heavy guitar rock with emotional vulnerability and studio experimentation. Their work influenced a wide range of later rock and indie artists.