Bob Seger

Seger and 3DD lead singer, Brad Arnold, both sing on "Landing In London" on the album Seventeen Days. A large fan site currently offers all of them: http://www.billy-corgan.com/downloads/mp3/mashed_potatoes/index.php . Seger was recording at the same studio as 3 Doors Down when 3DD's manager asked if he would sing on their album. With Billy's blessing, the 5-disc set, along with many other demos, can today be downloaded on various sites throughout the web. Also during 2004, Seger was working on his first new album in 10 years, titled Face the Promise; release of this disc is thought to be delayed until some time in 2005. A very limited-release boxed set of rarities (fewer than 10 copies are rumored to have been produced) was distributed to friends by Corgan in 1994; known as Mashed Potatoes, this set has achieved near-legendary status among fans. Seger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. In addition to official releases, there are a wide variety of bootleg and rare tracks circulating on the web.

Seger's classic take on life on the road, "Turn the Page", was later covered by Metallica. D'arcy Wretzky has not made any statements or appearances since leaving the band in 1999. Other familiar Seger songs include "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", "Night Moves", and "Hollywood Nights", but his most recognizable songs are almost certainly "Old Time Rock and Roll" (featured in the film Risky Business) and "Like a Rock" (the latter being most familiar to many younger Americans through its association with a long-running Chevrolet ad campaign). James Iha continues his work as guitarist with A Perfect Circle. Later in his career, Seger mellowed somewhat and he had a series of hits in the '80s with such mid-tempo ballads as "We've Got Tonight" and "Against the Wind". At the same time, Jimmy Chamberlin has completed work on his first solo album, entitled The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. Seger's early work is hard-rocking and shows the influence of fellow Michiganers Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels as well as pioneer rock-and-rollers such as Chuck Berry. He is also publicly open with his work on a new solo album, even requesting fans to attend live taping sessions.

Seger's successes paved the way for other heartland rockers including John Mellencamp and the Michael Stanley Band. In October, 2004, Corgan released his first book, a book of poetry entitled Blinking with Fists. As such he is often dismissed as a poor man's Bruce Springsteen, though this is an unfair comparison since Seger's career as a professional musician predates Springsteen's by five years. On June 3, 2004, he added that "the depth of my hurt [from Iha] is only matched with the depth of my gratitude". Seger is known as a workhorse midwestern roots-rocker who dealt with blue-collar themes and toured constantly in support of his frequent album releases. On February 17, 2004, Billy Corgan posted a bitter message on his personal blog calling Wretzky a "mean spirited drug addict" and blaming Iha for the breakup of The Smashing Pumpkins. He is best known for his work with the Silver Bullet Band, a group he formed in 1974. Their only album, Mary Star of the Sea, was released to mixed reviews, and after cancelling a few festival appearances Corgan announced the demise of the band in 2003.

Seger started his musical career in the 1960s in his native Detroit as a singer and as the leader of the Bob Seger System. Corgan and Chamberlin would reunite in 2001 as members of Corgan's next project, the shortlived Zwan. Robert Clark "Bob" Seger (born May 6, 1945) was an important figure in American rock and roll and pop music in the 1970s and 1980s, and continues to be influential today. This is excluded because the rights are owned by Warner Brothers, who loaned out the band from their regular label, Virgin Records.). Extensive fan website (http://www.segerfile.com). (There is one notable omission, "The End Is the Beginning Is the End", used in the Batman and Robin soundtrack. Official website (http://www.bobseger.com). It also features the performance of "Fuck You (An Ode To No One)" from their final gig at the Metro.

Face the Promise (due for release in 2005). It compiled all of the Pumpkins promo videos from Gish to MACHINA, the rare promo for "I Am One", a 15 minute short film called "Try" as well as a TV performance of "Geek U.S.A.". It's a Mystery (1995). A greatest hits DVD was also released around the same time. The Fire Inside (1991). The now rare double disc version of the album, released as a limited edition, included a B-sides/rarities collection called Judas O. Like a Rock (1986). 2001 saw the release of a posthumous greatest hits compilation, Rotten Apples (Greatest Hits), which included various singles spanning their decade long career.

The Distance (1982). The Smashing Pumpkins won many awards during their careers (including two Grammy awards: Hard Rock Performance 1996 for "Bullet with Butterfly Wings", and Hard Rock Performance 1997 for "The End Is the Beginning Is the End"), headlined several major tours, appeared on a few movie soundtracks and released an impressive number of songs in a fairly short time. Nine Tonight (1981). A DVD of the 4 hour concert is still in the works. Against the Wind (1980). On December 2, 2000, Smashing Pumpkins played their final concert at The Metro, the same Chicago club where their career had effectively started twelve years earlier. Stranger in Town (1978). The Smashing Pumpkins' final commercial recording was a single, "Untitled".

Night Moves (1976). In a first for an established band, the group's final album, MACHINA II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, was released in September 2000 in a limited pressing on vinyl with permission and instructions for free redistribution on the internet by fans. Live Bullet (1976). In May 2000, Billy Corgan announced the band's decision to break up at the end of that year following additional touring and recording. Beautiful Loser (1975). Bass player Wretzky departed after the recording of MACHINA/The Machines of God, and former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur was recruited for the "Sacred and Profane" tour in support of the album. Seven (1974). The band's lineup changed again at this point.

Back in '72 (1973). MACHINA also brought Corgan's desire to write a concept album to fruition. Smokin' O.P.'s (1972). The return of a rehabilitated Jimmy Chamberlin for 2000's MACHINA/The Machines of God signaled a return to a more familiar Pumpkins sound, but failed to widely connect with fans. Brand New Morning (1971). Although Adore received quite favorable reviews and was nominated for Best Alternative Performance at the Grammys, the album sold only 3 million copies. Mongrel (1970). Corgan also modified his public image, shedding his alternative hipster look for a dark Gothic persona, and began hanging around Marilyn Manson.

Noah (1969). The record was cut using drum machines and was distinctly experimental. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man (1969). Recorded following the death of Corgan's mother, 1998's Adore represented a significant change of style from the Pumpkins' previous guitar based rock, veering into electronica, trimming much of the guitar-driven sonic underpinnings and infused with a much heavier mood. Billy Corgan became something of a hate figure amongst the hard rock press following a statement in which he declared rock to be dead. He stated that Mellon Collie would be the last Pumpkins record of that type, and that rock was, for himself at least, becoming stale due to a lack of willingness to experiment from other rock artists. Though the band finished the tour with another drummer and keyboardist, their profile had taken a marked downturn.

Chamberlin was subsequently fired from the band. Melvoin died, and Chamberlin was arrested for drug possession. The band's fortunes changed significantly on July 12, 1996, when touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in a hotel room in New York City. Its hit songs included "Bullet with Butterfly Wings", "Tonight, Tonight," "1979" and "Zero." Many of the remaining songs that, for one reason or another, did not make it onto Mellon Collie were released as B-sides to the singles, eventually compiled in the now out of print The Aeroplane Flies High box set.

It also garnered seven 1996 Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year. While the idea of an overriding concept was dropped somewhere along the way, Mellon Collie became even more successful than Siamese Dream, selling over twelve million copies worldwide. The result was Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, a double-disc (triple on vinyl) album release featuring 28 songs and lasting over 2 hours. Following this spell of concentrated creativity, the Pumpkins went back into the studio with producer Flood to work on what Corgan described as "The Wall of the '90s," a comparison with Pink Floyd's famous double concept album.

Corgan worked non-stop over the next year and wrote, according to statements in interviews, about 50 songs for the next album. Following relentless touring to support the recordings, the band took time off to write the follow up album. In 2002, Vieuphoria (on DVD) and Earphoria were released to the public. In 1994, Virgin released a B-sides/rarities compilation Pisces Iscariot and a concert video Vieuphoria. A CD version of Vieuphoria, entitled Earphoria was released to radio stations only.

Siamese Dream sold four million copies in the US, and the videos for the songs "Today" and "Disarm" garnered the Pumpkins international attention through heavy rotation on MTV. Corgan went on record saying if the record didn't sell well, the band would break up. Contemporary music press portrayed Corgan as something of a tyrant during the recording sessions, with rumors circulating that Corgan had unilaterally erased and redone guitar and bass parts previously recorded by Iha and D'arcy, claims which band members say were greatly exaggerated. To counteract his depression, Corgan worked overtime, playing all of the guitar, bass and vocal tracks for the 1993 follow up album, Siamese Dream.

During the Gish tour, Iha and Wretsky went through a messy breakup, Chamberlin became addicted to drugs and alcohol, and Corgan entered a deep depression, writing some songs for the upcoming album in the parking garage where he lived at the time. Named after actress Lillian Gish, the record fused heavy metal guitars, psychedelia and Dream pop and went on to become a minor success. To give them indie credibility, Virgin matched the band with Sonic Youth producer Butch Vig and released their 1991 debut album Gish on Virgin subsidiary label Caroline Records. The single sold out and they released another single, "Tristessa" on Sub Pop Records, after which they signed to Virgin Records.

In 1990, they released their first record, a limited edition single called "I Am One" on local Chicago label Limited Potential. Though they played their first gig as a duo at a Polish bar, jazz drummer Jimmy Chamberlin was brought in to the band after Cabaret Metro owner Joe Shanahan agreed to book the Pumpkins, provided they threw out the drum machine and recruited a human drummer instead. In 1988, Corgan met bassist D'Arcy Wretzky at another band's gig in Chicago; Wretzky would join the band shortly after; Wretsky and Iha would eventually have a personal relationship. They began writing songs with the aid of a drum machine.

There he met guitarist James Iha. The band had limited success and quickly dissolved, and Corgan returned to Chicago, taking a job in a record store. Petersburg, Florida with his Goth band The Marked. At the age of 19, singer and guitarist Billy Corgan left his native Chicago, Illinois, moving to St.

They produced a series of critically and commercially successful records between their formation in 1988 and dissolution in 2000. Less punk influenced than many of their contemporaries, their distinctive sound featured a dense, guitar-heavy sound and combined elements of heavy metal, psychedelia, power pop, acoustic music, shoegazer-style production and, in later recordings, electronica. The Smashing Pumpkins (previously known as simply Smashing Pumpkins) were a critically and commercially successful American alternative rock band of the 1990s and early 21st century. Download sample of "Cherub Rock" from Siamese Dream.

Untitled from Rotten Apples. Try, Try, Try from MACHINA/The Machines of God. Stand Inside Your Love from MACHINA/The Machines of God. The Everlasting Gaze from MACHINA/The Machines of God.

Perfect from Adore. Ava Adore from Adore. The End is the Beginning is the End from Batman and Robin OST. Thirty-Three from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

Tonight, Tonight from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Zero from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. 1979 from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Bullet with Butterfly Wings from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

Rocket from Siamese Dream. Disarm from Siamese Dream. Today from Siamese Dream. Cherub Rock from Siamese Dream.

I Am One from Gish (this video was finally released in 2001 on the Greatest Hits DVD). Rhinoceros from Gish. Siva from Gish.