Smashing Pumpkins Record New Song with Butch Vig and Announce Mellon Collie Arena Tour

On May 19, frontman Billy Corgan used his Substack channel to reveal that the Smashing Pumpkins have recorded a single new track with producer Butch Vig. The session is the band’s first studio work with Vig since the 1993 *Siamese Dream* sessions—over three decades later. Corgan said the song is “basically done recording” and “98 percent done,” but withheld its title, exact release date, and purpose, noting it will be issued later this year.

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Butch Vig produced the Pumpkins’ debut LP *Gish* (1991) and the breakthrough double-album *Siamese Dream* (1993). During that era he also took on Nirvana’s *Nevermind*, a decision Corgan recalled hearing about from the next room. The renewed partnership therefore reconnects the band with a producer who shaped two of their most influential records and a pivotal moment in alternative-rock history.

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• Billy Corgan – vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter.

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• Butch Vig – producer, engineer.

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• Jimmy Chamberlin – drums.

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• James Iha – guitar.

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• Kiki Wong – guitar.

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• Jack Bates – bass.

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• Augustus Juppiter – commentator who added a light-hearted remark about Chamberlin during the Substack video.

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• May 17 – The Pumpkins performed a small-hall show at the Legion Theater in Los Angeles, featuring a full *Mellon Collie* set and the first live rendition of “Here Is No Why” since 1997.

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• May 19 – Corgan announced the new Vig-produced song via Substack.

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• July 31 – Scheduled appearance at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

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• Sept. 30 – Mellon Collie arena tour launches in Columbus, Ohio.

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• Recording status: 98 % complete.

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• Time since last Vig collaboration: 32 years (over 33 years since *Siamese Dream*).

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• Tour focus: the 1995 double LP *Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness*, with a “highly theatrical” first half and a second set covering the rest of the catalog.

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• Tour kickoff: Sept. 30, Columbus, Ohio, followed by additional North-American arena dates.

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The session reunites the Pumpkins with a producer integral to their early sound, suggesting a potential stylistic bridge between past and future material. Coupled with a high-profile arena tour that spotlights a landmark album, the moves signal the band’s intent to sustain relevance and engage both longtime fans and new listeners.

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Corgan described the announcement as a “10 out of 10” moment, adding it might even be an “11 out of 10” event, and emphasized the song’s “cool” nature and near-completion. He framed the week as “full circle,” noting the band’s return to the studio and the upcoming “highly theatrical” Mellon Collie shows. The band confirmed the song will be released later in the year, though specifics remain undisclosed.

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• “I presume we’re going to play some Siamese Dream for all you Siamese Zombies,” — Billy Corgan

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• “I think it’s pretty cool. It’s a full circle week for us. It’s in the stars. Pretty good week in Pumpkin Land.” — Billy Corgan

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• “Jimmy Chamberlin always leaves the car door open.” — Augustus Juppiter

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The band will reveal the new track’s title and release window later in 2024, while the Mellon Collie arena tour proceeds through the fall, culminating in a Lollapalooza slot on July 31. Fans can expect further updates from Corgan’s Substack as the project advances.

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