Billy Corgan has confirmed that Smashing Pumpkins are working on a new album – and revealed that the legendary Rick Rubin in producing.

Earlier this month, Corgan shared a reunion photo of himself with original members of the classic line-up James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain hanging out in the studio.

Now, in a lengthy and emotional post, Corgan has looked back on his past as well as to the future. In sharing a photo of himself that appears to be from around the ‘Siamese Dream’ or early ‘Mellon Collie’ era, he wrote of the band’s current time in the studio where they are working with Rick Rubin.


He wrote:

“I’ve had a crazy life. Good crazy, but crazy nonetheless. For example. I saw this picture of myself the other day. Besides having a generally good idea of when it was taken (1993 or 1994) I don’t remember actually taking the photo, nor do I remember countless others like it between the years 1991-2004. Now, perhaps that says something about my inability or desire to remember, but I’d argue it’s an unfortunate result of the blur of those years. “Which leads me to this time, or this moment, where like so many, I share a window (curated as it is) into my crazy life. As an example, we are currently in the studio with Rick Rubin. But unless I show you a picture of Rick sitting Buddha-like at a mixing desk, you probably wouldn’t know that. Or when I, in a very naive way, post a shot with a needle in my arm and ramble on about making peace with God and time left on dear ‘ol Earth, it sent some signal to friends and associates alike that I was sick or wanted other’s sympathy. (As fact, it was an IV full of vitamins and homeopathy to assist in getting over this vicious flu). “So yes, was sick, and no, not serious in any way nor would I share such info here because this window I’d prefer to be one where you see the sunlight streaming through. The only addendum to that is when I saw how others were reacting to their perception of my misguided and poorly worded message, I chose not to react in kind; in essence I let the shadows cast be whatever you-they-them want to believe. “Because we live now in a world where perception often outweighs reality, and that’s fine. So to that, here’s a new pic I just took of me with my sandy-brown, curly hair flowing in the studio breeze. Lots of love, WPC.”

While Corgan has been talking about reuniting the original line-up for a while, Chamberlin also hinted a reformation could be happening last summer. Speaking to WGN Radio, he said: “We were talking about playing next year with the band and somebody asked me, you know, ‘What’s it like trying to co-ordinate that?’” However, original bassist D’arcy Wretzky has revealed that she won’t be taking part in the reunion. Advertisement “My apologies to all of the Smashing Pumpkins fans out there who are excited about this oncoming reunion tour of the original members of the band,” she told BlastEcho. “I know this is a huge disappointment for me, as well, but it’s not going to happen [with me].” Wretzky added that she “only just found [out] yesterday that the band has decided to go with a different bass player.” Corgan released his second solo album ‘Ogilala’ last year. The seminal band formed in 1988 and released six acclaimed albums until their split in the year 2000. In that time, Wretsky left the band in 1999, while Chamberlain was absent for three years after 1996. Corgan then reformed the band under various incarnations in 2006 (featuring Chamberlain for a number of years). The band have since released four albums since then, the last was 2014’s acclaimed ‘Monuments To An Elegy’. It is hoped that the band will reveal release details and tour dates in the months ahead.