Reviews

They are words that have always seemed a little unfair. Sure, Billy might be a believer of his own press but when you’ve sold 18m copies of an album, surely you have the right to think you’re pretty good.

Smashing Pumpkins (c) Shirlaine Forrest

The problem is, though, that he didn’t notice the failures as well, and try as you might to ignore it, tonight showed just why his ego is so overwhelming.

See, as much as you want to believe that he reformed Smashing Pumpkins because he just loved the band, you can’t help but have the niggling doubt that this new venture is a simple accounting decision, made because Zwan and his solo work were never going to make him enough cash.

That feeling comes from the sheer disdain with which he treats the audience. Booked into the Arena when the Apollo would probably have sufficed, the new Pumpkins – there’s only Billy and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain from the original line-up left – went through the motions.

Smashing Pumpkins (c) Shirlaine Forrest

It’s not that there was any problem with the music. There were textbook versions of both new monsters, like Bring The Light and Tarantula, and the classics, such as Tonight and a stripped down Perfect, though the decision to root most of the set in album tracks old and new made for some puzzled looks on all but the most faithful follower.

The problem was that the songs were delivered with so little soul and emotion, and came coupled with such extreme arrogance, summed up by the fact that Corgan barely spoke and when he did, it was to offer such stomach churning remarks as "welcome to my rock and roll party… you’re lucky to be invited" – quite a comment to make to an auditorium that was barely a third full.

The result was a concert that danced on the grave of one of the biggest and most under-rated bands of recent years, and would have made a true fan weep for the memory of the original Smashing Pumpkins. It’s a hard fact to face, but this was nothing more than a covers band's set, perfectly proficient at the sound, but bearing little resemblance to the real act.