Chicago Tribune - September 7, 1990

Personnel: Billy Corgan, guitar, vocals; James (he doesn`t use his last name), guitar; D`arcy (neither does she), bass; Jimmy Chamberlin, drums.

Formed: August 1988, in the city.

Sound: "We`ve been called everything from neo-glam to hypnotic drone grunge," Corgan says.

Influences: Corgan cites " `60s mega-rock bands like Cream, Black Sabbath, the Stooges, Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin-your monsters of rock."

Songwriting: Corgan.

In-concert cover versions: Steppenwolf`s "Sookie Sookie" and "a pretty nasty" version of Blue Oyster Cult`s "Godzilla." The band also covered the Ozark Mountain Daredevils` "Jackie Blue" for an upcoming Pravda K-Tel tribute album.

Namesake: "It just kind of came to me," Corgan says. "It means absolutely nothing. It`s the most ambiguous name I could think of."

Memorable concert experience: "This guy got on stage and grabbed the microphone, so I shoved him," Corgan says. "He proceeded to stand one foot in front of me as I sang the next song."

Turf: The band often plays at Cabaret Metro, which is run by their manager, Joe Shanahan. The Pumpkins have also toured throughout the Midwest.

Side project: Corgan is in a less ear-friendly side band, Star Children, whose motto is "Be repetitive for nuisance`s sake."

Recordings: Smashing Pumpkins released the single "I Am One" on Limited Potential Records in May. The band just recorded a single, "Tristessa"/"La Dolly Vita," for Seattle`s Sub Pop label for a November release.

Philosophy: "It`s such a personalized band that I wouldn`t say there`s an external philosophy," Corgan says. "We just do what we do, and if you like it you like it, you don`t you don`t."

Goals: "Success to me would be to be able to put out the exact type of records I want to put out and play the shows I want to play and have people accept that," Corgan says. "If you`re doing exactly what you want to do and you`re getting support for that, then there`s no reason to do anything else."