As Smashing Pumpkins hit the UK for a summer of giant shows, we head to Halifax to meet their old-school fans and recent converts to find out why the music still hits like a bullet with butterfly wings…
Smashing Pumpkins are an institution that spans generations. Since their breakthrough in the ’90s, Billy Corgan and co.’s cathartic anthems for the misfits and weirdos have connected on a level deeper than most. But who actually are their fans in 2025? We headed along to The Piece Hall in Halifax – just one of four huge outdoor shows across the UK for the Chicago legends this summer – to find out for ourselves…
How long have you been a Smashing Pumpkins fan?
“To be honest, only recently. I know they've been going much longer than I've been alive, but I got into them two or three years ago. The first song I fell in love with was Ava Adore, and then in the past year I've gone deeper and deeper.”
What is it you like about them?
“I think as an artist Billy is individualistic and I like a lot of the themes he talks about in the songs. The band, as well, they've got such a distinct sound in such a big world of rock.”
What is the cure for infinite sadness?
“Peace. Peace. Peace. That's the one. Inner peace.”
Why do you think the ’90s is back in fashion?
“I just think that was the golden time for a lot of culture and fashion – especially with the music, having bands like The Smashing Pumpkins. I mean, I'm all for it, I take a lot of my fashion from that.”
How long have you been a Smashing Pumpkins fan?
“I'm not gonna lie, literally since last September. I've known about them, just not really known them.”
What was it that switched that for you?
“Well, I met Piers! And he used to play them all the time. I knew them from TikTok and Instagram though, and my dad also listens to them.”
What are some of your favourite songs?
“Probably Luna and The Boy.”
What is it that you like about them so much?
“I think they're just really weird and I like it. Like, it’s good music, but they're not normal. Do you know what I mean? It's just weird.”
What is the cure for infinite sadness?
“Hopefully just accepting that you're weird and not trying to fit in.”
Why do you think that the ’90s is popular again?
“Everyone was cool, everyone was doing own thing. And everyone was dressed cool. It was just better!”
How long you been a Smashing Pumpkins fan?
“Since I was 15, probably. Maybe five or six years? My dad's into that kind of music – he's in that kind of age group that watched them originally so I got into them through him.”
What is it that you like about them so much?
“I don't know. They changed quite a lot over the time, they sound very different to when they started. I like bands that do that, you know, changing up the sound but just making good music. And it's really good music, really good stuff to listen to.”
What is the cure for infinite sadness?
“Go and see The Smashing Pumpkins That's what it is.”
Why do you think the ’90s is like popular again?
“I think it's that 25 to 30-year age gap between kids and parents. It's the most common age gap, and I think you naturally listen to what your parents listen to, so a lot of people discover music through that.”
How long have you been a Smashing Pumpkins fan?
“Probably since I was about 14 or 15. I don't think my dad was the biggest fan but it could have been my uncle – he's into this kind of music.”
What is it you like about them?
“The music – simple, really. I just keep going back to it, to be honest. It's a really good listening experience on headphones. 1979 on headphones, I thought someone was knocking on my door.”
How do you cure infinite sadness?
“Alcohol. Gigs. Alcohol.”
Why do you think the ’90s is back?
“I think it's our age. We weren't born in the ’90s and you always want what you don't have. We've got so many years to make up for I guess – we've missed a lot of time. Time has been going on for a while and we need to catch up, y’know?”
How long have you been Smashing Pumpkins fans?
Ola: “My mum was a big fan, and so I've kind of grown up with a lot of music she likes. I've known a lot of their music – some of the classics have been a big part of my childhood.“
Richie: “I can't tell you exactly how long. I just went through the loop of similar bands and discovered them that way. I think it's been about one or two years.”
What do you like about their music?
Ola: “They've got a nice duality; some of their songs are quite mellow and chill, but then some of the are quite aggressive. And you're like, 'Whoa!' The switcheroo kind of gets me going.”
Richie: “I don't have a specific reason, it's just the sound, I like it.”
What is the cure for infinite sadness?
Ola: “Milkshake. There's so much you can do. Always cheers you up, no matter what. I think milkshakes top all.”
What's your milkshake order?
Ola: “Depends on the place. Usually I'll go for the bog-standard Oreo.”
Why do you think the ’90s is popular again?
Ola: “It's vintage. People like old things, and it's just getting to that point where the ’90s is old now so it's cycled around.”
How long have you been Smashing Pumpkins fans?
Caitlin: “I don't know… since I was maybe 13? Quite a long time.”
Tim: “Since the car journey here! We go lots of gigs together.”
Caitlin: “I saw them two nights ago as well.”
Tim: “I drag her to loads of gigs, she's had to put up with my taste.”
What is it you like about them?
Caitlin: “I like how whiny his voice is.”
How did you first get into them?
Caitlin: “1979. It just came up on my Spotify playlist.”
What other music do you like?
Caitlin: “I like Pixies, Fontaines D.C., Jeff Buckley, that kind of stuff.”
Tim: “I do like Fontaines. I'm a big Stranglers fan, I've seen Maiden hundreds of times. Yeah, I'm an ageing punk who likes heavy metal.”
What's the cure for infinite sadness?
Caitlin: “Robert Smith?”
Tim: “West Ham winning the World Cup? Or Bruce Dickinson's voice.”
Why do you think the ’90s is popular again?
Caitlin: “The 20-year trend cycle. Everything comes back in 20 years.”
Tim: “Well, I hate to say it, but I think a certain band has reignited the interest in that era.”
How long you been a Smashing Pumpkins fan?
“Since I was maybe in my late-teens. I first got into them through Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.”
What do you like about them so much?
“That's hard to put my finger on. The mixture between the soft and the really heavy stuff, I think. When it builds from the quiet and then gets really angry. It gets quite full-on, big, heavy and deep. That's what I like.”
What's the cure for infinite sadness?
“Well, you know, Mellon Collie. Or my personal cure would be my good lady wife [pictured].”
Why do you think the ’90s is cool again?
“Cool again? It's always been cool!”
But why is it popular again?
“It's Oasis. And I can't complain about that because we've been to watch them, and it was fucking amazing. We saw them first time around, we were at [what was originally] their the last-ever gig.”
How long have you been fans of Smashing Pumpkins?
Ian: “I first heard Bullet With Butterfly Wings on Kerrang! TV and that was it, it changed my life.”
Chloe: “I became a fan when I got with Ian as he introduced me to them. And our first daughter is named after D'arcy, the old bass player.”
So what is it about their music that you love?
Ian: “I was always into Nirvana and Pixies and stuff like that. It was just the right time, the right mood.“
Chloe: “It's just easy listening, isn't it?”
Ian: “I fell in love with Billy Corgan.”
Chloe: “He's a good frontman. I like it because it reminds me of when we first got together. It's wholesome and nostalgic for us. They hold a special place in our heart.”
What is the cure for infinite sadness?
Chloe: “Oh, good pizza!”
Ian: “I was going to say something really romantic, but there ya go.”
Chloe: “What were you going to say?”
Ian: “Marriage and kids. Honestly I think it's so important.”
Chloe: “You can tell who the romantic one is in the relationship!”
Why do you think the ’90s is popular again, then?
Ian: “It's just like a cycle. I think the fashion comes first and then the music.”
Chloe: “I think the ’90s, when you look back, feels so magical, doesn't it?”
Ian: “I do feel like every generation has that. My grandparents think everything is shit now and loved their time. And that's fine!”
