Formed in 1988, Chicago-based alt-rockers Smashing Pumpkins’ music blended progressive rock, heavy metal and pop. Singer-guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D’Arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain released their debut album, Tristessa, on Sub Pop Records in 1990, and its success caught the attention of Virgin Records. They signed with Virgin’s indie subsidiary, Caroline, and they released Gish with the help of renowned alternative-music producer Butch Vig. Amid internal strife that threatened to break up the band, the Pumpkins released Siamese Dream in 1993, which debuted at No. 10 and produced the hits "Cherub Rock," "Rocket" and "Disarm." They headlined Lollapalooza 1994 and also released a collection of B-sides, Pisces Iscariot, that year. Their third album, the double-disc Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, debuted at No. 1 and went eight-times platinum. In 1996, keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died of a heroin overdose, and the band fired Chamberlin for his drug use. Drummer Matt Walker and keyboardist Dennis Flemion joined the group for their next tour. They released Adore in 1998 to disappointing reviews; Chamberlin returned and D’Arcy left the band, and with the addition of bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, the Pumpkins launched a farewell tour in 2000. A final album, Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music, was posted for free on the Internet, and the members went on to solo projects: Corgan started a new band, Zwan, while Iha and Auf Der Maur launched the Virgins.

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