The Smashing Pumpkins – Europe Tour 2025

The Smashing Pumpkins will perform on Friday, August 1, 2025, starting with 8.30 pm, at the Capannelle Racecourse, in Rome, as part of the music festival Rock in Roma 2025.

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THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

The Smashing Pumpkins – Concert in Rome

The Smashing Pumpkins, a seminal force in alternative rock, emerged in the late 1980s to define a generation of music.

Founded in Chicago in 1988 by frontman Billy Corgan, the band combined a kaleidoscope of musical styles, from grunge and heavy metal to dream pop and psychedelic rock, to create a sound uniquely their own.

The original lineup of The Smashing Pumpkins consisted of Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar), James Iha (guitar), D’arcy Wretzky (bass), and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums).

Corgan’s vision and ambition drove the band’s direction, with his intricate songwriting and layered guitar work laying the foundation for their music.

Their first album, Gish (1991), showcased their potential. Released during the height of grunge, the album offered a melodic yet heavy sound, blending shoegaze textures with hard rock.

While it did not achieve massive commercial success, it garnered critical acclaim and established the band as rising stars.

In 1993, The Smashing Pumpkins released Siamese Dream, a breakthrough album that catapulted them into mainstream success.

Tracks like Today, Disarm, and Cherub Rock exemplified the band’s ability to juxtapose beauty and aggression. The lush production, combined with Corgan’s introspective lyrics, resonated with listeners.

The album sold millions of copies and remains a cornerstone of 1990s alternative rock.

Behind the scenes, the making of Siamese Dream was fraught with tension. Corgan, a known perfectionist, took control of much of the recording process, leading to conflicts within the band.

Despite these challenges, the result was a masterpiece that defined their career.

In 1995, the band released their magnum opus, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. A sprawling double album, it explored themes of life, death, love, and despair.

The record featured iconic tracks like 1979, Bullet with Butterfly Wings, and Tonight, Tonight. It earned critical acclaim, multiple Grammy Awards, and solidified the band as one of the biggest acts of the decade.

With its eclectic mix of styles and ambitious scope, Mellon Collie appealed to both alternative and mainstream audiences.

The album’s success marked the pinnacle of the band’s commercial and creative achievements.

The late 1990s and early 2000s were a tumultuous period for The Smashing Pumpkins. Internal struggles, substance abuse issues, and lineup changes strained the band.

Albums like Adore (1998) and Machina/The Machines of God (2000) explored new directions, including electronic and gothic influences, but received mixed reactions from fans and critics.

In 2000, the band announced their breakup, marking the end of an era. However, Corgan revived The Smashing Pumpkins in 2006 with new members and continued releasing music, including Oceania (2012) and Cyr (2020).

The Smashing Pumpkins’ influence on alternative rock is immeasurable. Their ability to blend genres, experiment with sound, and convey raw emotion has inspired countless artists.

Despite ups and downs, the band remains an enduring symbol of 1990s music culture.

ROCK IN ROMA

Rock in Roma is a music festival that takes place every year in Rome, since 2002. Until its 2008 edition, the event was known as the Romarock Festival.

The festival usually has a various lineup, which allows the meeting of different cultures and musical genres, ranging from metal to techno, from rap to electronica, from classical pop to alternative indie.

IPPODROMO DELLE CAPANNELLE

The Capannelle Racecourse (Ippodromo delle Capannelle) is a horse racing venue in Rome. The course was built in 1881, and rebuilt in 1926 to a design by Paolo Vietti-Violi. The racecourse is the home of the Rock in Roma festival since 2009.

You can reach the venue by train, getting off at the Capannelle railway station, located about 900 meters away.

The closest bus stop is Capannelle/Appia Nuova, a few meters away from the entrance to the racecourse, on the bus Lines 118, 520, 654, 664, 789 and C11.