Billy Corgan announced that the Smashing Pumpkins are throwing in the towel. Corgan made his surprising announcement on the alternative radio station KROQ in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Originally the band planned to tell the world they were breaking up when they released their latest album MACHINA/the machines of GOD. However they changed their minds fearing the announcement would overshadow the album. Corgan told KROQ "But now that the album is out, it's fine. We wanted to make one more album to leave things on a positive note." 

Corgan said that he had hoped to have a reunited Smashing Pumpkins for the farewell album and tour, those plans fell through when bassist D’Arcy Wretzky left the band last year before the album hit the stores. 

Corgan explained to the KROQ listeners that they do plan to finish the current tour of the US before heading to Europe, Canada and Japan with the possibility of dates in South America. Billy also told listeners, “We have another album’s worth of songs left over from MACHINA we’re gonna try to finish starting in July. We also might do some additional live recordings.”
 
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman was emotional yet relieved by letting the cat out of the bag. “It is a weight lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I’ve been walking around with this weird secret. I think deep down our fans really knew that this was the end.  If you really listen to the album, it’s in the album. We brought this thing to what we felt was a really strong conclusion and it freed us to enjoy it.”  

What’s next? James Iha will stay with music while Jimmy Chamberlin hopes to race cars. Corgan says he is not sure what he plans to do. “I’m lucky because at least in my personal situation, I can do whatever I want to do. Now whether or not I can do them well or anybody cares is another question. It’s been 13 years but who I am on the other side of that, I don’t know.” 

“It’s about completing the circle and leaving things on a positive note,” said Corgan. “We have really enjoyed this year—more so than any other year that we’ve ever been a band. That’s about it. It’s about leaving everybody with a nice kiss and one more swing.” 
 

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