The Smashing Pumpkins will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary with a tour of theaters around the country, where they will play “special set lists”. Billboard reports that “During multiple-night engagements, for which special ticket bundles will be available, the band promises to not repeat any song on the set lists. The first night of such runs is being dubbed “Black Sunshine,” while the second is called “White Crosses.”

So, yea…I don’t really get the reasons why the tours are named that, but Billy Corgan is pretty much insane now. Before the tour, the band will be playing Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit Concert for the first time since 1999.

I’m not really too interested in the tour, because it’s not a true anniversary since the original members are nowhere to be found. Although if you’re a fan of Chamberlain’s drumming, and don’t mind Iha and D’Arcy being gone, its a good chance to see his drumming skills live.

I know that Chamberlain is a long-time Yamaha drums endorser, but I have seen some photo’s of him playing a pearl drum set. Not exactly sure why, but it is interesting to note. The bands tour dates are as follows…

Nov. 1: Cleveland (Palace Theatre)
Nov. 3-4: Toronto (Massey Hall)
Nov. 6-7: New York (United Palace Theatre)
Nov. 8: Atlantic City, N.J. (Borgata)
Nov. 11-12: Washington, D.C. (DAR Constitution Hall)
Nov. 14-15: Boston (Wang Center)
Nov. 18-19: Chicago (Chicago Theatre)
Nov. 21-22: Chicago (Auditorium Theatre)
Nov. 26: St. Louis (Fox Theatre)
Nov. 30: San Diego (RIMAC Arena)
Dec. 2-3: Los Angeles (Gibson Amphitheatre)

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The Smashing Pumpkins are gearing up for a series of small shows in August in honor of their 20th anniversary.

“According to the group’s Web site, the Pumpkins will visit “mostly smaller-sized venues” during an August run featuring “unique sets and songs.”

So far the only date announced is Aug. 9 at the Venue in Hammond, Ind. The band will also gear up in November for larger shows in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

If you want to catch drummer Jimmy Chamberlain and his awesome drum kit, live and up-close you’ll want to start plotting a way to get tickets to those smaller shows.

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The “Smashing Pumpkins” (I put this in quotes because they still lack original members D’Arcy and James Iha) are planning to release a DVD of some their recent shows. The band is also planning to play some anniversary shows, put together demos of new songs and eventually release another album.

Straight from Billy Corgan: “We’re working on a DVD that’s sort of a documentary of our residency Fillmore shows. We’re going to put out hopefully some of our early demos for Christmas, probably put out a new Pumpkins single with new Pumpkins in the fall and then do a fall tour, and then we start putting out a new Pumpkins album probably beginning next year.”

To me this bands whole reunion thing is a joke, although Jimmy Chamberlain is a phenomenal drummer, I never really considered him a rock drummer. He has more of a soft, jazzier approach that helped separate the Smashing Pumpkins from other early 90’s bands.

This recent wave of bands reuniting is crazy, although at least most of the other bands reuniting contain their original lineups! Granted, Billy Corgan wrote and played most of the Pumpkins material, but come on! D’Arcy and James Iha were a huge part of the band.

Oh well, I can always throw on Siamese Dream and enjoy it, especially Jimmy Chamberlain rockin’….err….jazzin’ out.

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