Features
Billy Corgan’s Zwan Song
The site provides no further information on the project except for a straightforward mention of the four club dates. But there’s more to Zwan than some first-name-only musicians playing 500-800 capacity venues like the Glass House in Pomona.
This is Billy Corgan’s new band. The Jimmy on drums is former Smashing Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin. Matt the guitarist is reportedly Matt Walker, who left Filter to tour and record with the Pumpkins after Chamberlain was dismissed for drug use.
Some fans on the still very active Smashing Pumpkins message boards think Skullfisher could be one of the band’s ex-bassists – D’Arcy Wretzky or Melissa Auf Der Maur.
At the moment, that’s all you’re likely to find out about Zwan. Corgan – still apparently quite the control freak – has kept a tight lid on his new endeavor. The venues and promoters involved in the initial dates certainly aren’t talking; they’re not even publicizing the shows.
The band’s sound is allegedly prog/goth rock but the world will have to wait for the first show November 16 to find out what that means.
It’s no surprise that Zwan isn’t affiliated with any record label. Corgan’s great displeasure with Smashing Pumpkins’ label – Virgin Records – was well documented as the band’s career drew to a close late last year.
When Virgin refused to release a 25-track grand finale because it came too soon after the Pumpkins’ Machina: The Machines Of God album, the band posted the recordings on the Internet under the title Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music for fans to download for free.
The band took their final bow December 2, 2000, ending where their live career began in 1988 – Chicago’s Metro club.
Corgan spent time on the road this summer playing with New Order but Zwan marks the first original work to emerge from the ashes of the Pumpkins.