Smashing Pumpkins Music Group

In another incident illustrating the growing presence of heroin in the world of rock music, a member of Smashing Pumpkins, one of the nation's most popular and acclaimed alternative rock bands, was arrested Friday and charged with heroin possession after a backup musician with the group died of an apparent drug overdose. Police said Jimmy Chamberlin, 32, the band's drummer, was with Jonathan Melvoin, 34, when the veteran keyboard player overdosed in Park Avenue's posh Regency Hotel.

The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying the record label has illegally used their name and music in pro- motional deals that hurt the band's credibility with fans. In a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in L.A. Superior Court on Monday, the rockers said they have "worked hard for over two decades to accumulate a considerable amount of goodwill in the eyes of the public" and that Virgin's use of the band in a "Pepsi Stuff" promotion with Amazon.com and Pepsi Co. threatens their reputation for "artistic integrity."

Wouldn't you just know that those cagey folks at MTV would have another ace up their sleeve on Wednesday at the 13th annual Video Music Awards telecast? No, the surprise kickoff this time wasn't the welcoming back of a celebrity who had fallen from grace--a la Pee-wee Herman in 1991. And it wasn't the public kiss of a private couple--along the lines of lovebirds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994.

Singer Billy Corgan said Tuesday that he plans to revive the Smashing Pumpkins, his Grammy-winning band that broke up in 2000 after more than a decade of blending alternative rock with the avant-garde. In full-page advertisements in two newspapers in his hometown of Chicago, Corgan said, "I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams." He did not say which if any of the band's former members would be involved in the revived group. Nor did he offer a timetable.

Singer Billy Corgan said Tuesday that he plans to revive the Smashing Pumpkins, his Grammy-winning band that broke up in 2000 after more than a decade of blending alternative rock with the avant-garde. In full-page advertisements in two newspapers in his hometown of Chicago, Corgan said, "I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams." He did not say which if any of the band's former members would be involved in the revived group. Nor did he offer a timetable.

Chicago rock superstars Smashing Pumpkins filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Chrysalis Music in Los Angeles Superior Court, declaring their music publishing contract with the firm void. The band alleges that it entered into a four-album song-publishing deal with Chrysalis in 1992, but after meeting the requirements of the pact, discovered it was unenforceable.

The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying the record label has illegally used their name and music in pro- motional deals that hurt the band's credibility with fans. In a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed in L.A. Superior Court on Monday, the rockers said they have "worked hard for over two decades to accumulate a considerable amount of goodwill in the eyes of the public" and that Virgin's use of the band in a "Pepsi Stuff" promotion with Amazon.com and Pepsi Co. threatens their reputation for "artistic integrity."

Even when Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan is dropping a bombshell-- such as declaring that his band is about to quit the guitar-rock arena for good--the soft-spoken singer-guitarist presents the news as calmly as if he were commenting on the weather. Corgan's unflappable demeanor can be unsettling, because you sense that there's a lot of turbulence just beneath that surface.

At first glance, Billy Corgan hardly comes across as the latest giant of the college/ alternative rock world. He's not darkly handsome and elusive like Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, nor outwardly rebellious and gritty a la Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. The 6-foot-plus singer, in fact, appears as soft and vulnerable as your favorite stuffed animal. His short, chestnut-colored hair isn't cut in any of the trendy styles of the day, and his round, brown eyes seem placid.

Chicago rock superstars Smashing Pumpkins filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Chrysalis Music in Los Angeles Superior Court, declaring their music publishing contract with the firm void. The band alleges that it entered into a four-album song-publishing deal with Chrysalis in 1992, but after meeting the requirements of the pact, discovered it was unenforceable.

Wouldn't you just know that those cagey folks at MTV would have another ace up their sleeve on Wednesday at the 13th annual Video Music Awards telecast? No, the surprise kickoff this time wasn't the welcoming back of a celebrity who had fallen from grace--a la Pee-wee Herman in 1991. And it wasn't the public kiss of a private couple--along the lines of lovebirds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994.

In another incident illustrating the growing presence of heroin in the world of rock music, a member of Smashing Pumpkins, one of the nation's most popular and acclaimed alternative rock bands, was arrested Friday and charged with heroin possession after a backup musician with the group died of an apparent drug overdose. Police said Jimmy Chamberlin, 32, the band's drummer, was with Jonathan Melvoin, 34, when the veteran keyboard player overdosed in Park Avenue's posh Regency Hotel.

Even when Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan is dropping a bombshell-- such as declaring that his band is about to quit the guitar-rock arena for good--the soft-spoken singer-guitarist presents the news as calmly as if he were commenting on the weather. Corgan's unflappable demeanor can be unsettling, because you sense that there's a lot of turbulence just beneath that surface.

At first glance, Billy Corgan hardly comes across as the latest giant of the college/ alternative rock world. He's not darkly handsome and elusive like Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, nor outwardly rebellious and gritty a la Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. The 6-foot-plus singer, in fact, appears as soft and vulnerable as your favorite stuffed animal. His short, chestnut-colored hair isn't cut in any of the trendy styles of the day, and his round, brown eyes seem placid.