There once was a band called the Smashing Pumpkins. My first serious introduction to the Chicago rock group was a disc they released in '93 entitled "Siamese Dream". It was awesome, a play-through, a tour de force. They immediately became one of my favourite bands and I went out and bought their follow-up double album "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" and then "Adore".
When I heard they were breaking up, I was bummed, but at least I was going to catch them on their farewell tour. They came through Barrie and I was there to pay my last respects. It ranks as the greatest disappointment of my concert going life. Billy Corgan clearly didn't want to be there and they went through the motions offering a weak playlist with only a few crowd pleasers which they managed to change just enough to make awful. It was a short and brutal end to a band I once adored. They didn't even throw their fans a bone with a single encore.
I don't believe I've intentionally played a Smashing Pumpkins album since. That performance left a really bad taste in my mouth and I haven't forgiven and forgot. The other day I read about Corgan's plan to reunite the band and it barely registered as news I'd be interested in. That's how far their stock has fallen in my eyes.
There's a lesson to be learned here for all band members who frequent this site. If your fans shell out good money to hear you perform live, entertain them. At the very least, pretend that you're happy to be there and do your best. Don't pull a Corgan and piss off your core audience. Otherwise, when you reform and mount your comeback, few will care.
