(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The Smashing Pumpkins celebrated the Siamese Dream 30th anniversary by going back in time 30 years. Sort of.
If you're keeping score at home, the actual 30th anniversary of the Pumpkins' breakthrough sophomore album already happened earlier this year. It was released on July 27, 1993, so I went long in paying tribute to the album over the summer. It's one of my all-time favorite albums. And I believe it to be the best alternative album of the '90s. I hope you'll take some time to read and find out why.
Billy & Co. have been celebrating the 30-year mark for the better part of the year, I guess. Their World Is A Vampire Tour kicked off the day after the album's 30th anniversary in July, and wrapped up in early September. The band is on the road supporting their new album ATUM. They had a summer stop in NH because they already hit Boston last fall. Read my kid's review of the show.
Smashing Pumpkins Celebrate 'Siamese Dream' 30th Anniversary
So with the summer tour in the books, the Pumpkins finally had time to pay a proper tribute to Siamese Dream. On September 17, the band decamped to Pumpkin-head Billy Corgan's Chicago teahouse, Madame Zuzu's. The performance space was decked out to recreate Tower Records in Chicago. Now why would the band do a peculiar thing like that?
Because thirty years earlier, the Pumpkins played the actual Tower Records in Chicago. It was the eve of the album's release: July 26, 1993. The band played a stripped-down album release acoustic show. So to mark that occasion thirty years later, the band did it again. With a slightly-different lineup and a slightly-different setlist, including a few Pumpkins gems that haven't been played live in years.
Watch the full "Siamese Dream 30th Anniversary Party" set below.
Now, dig into the album release set from the summer of '93.
Throwback Thursday: Smashing Pumpkins ‘Siamese Dream,’ Deluxe Edition
Since Siamese Dream celebrated a birthday this week, I figured I'd dig into the Deluxe Edition of the Smashing Pumpkins classic, released in 2011. I did the same for Gish earlier this summer; check that out here.
Siamese Dream Box Set cover
There they are! Ali Laenger and Lysandra Roberts, forever immortalized.
Siamese Dream Box Set back
Or is it "bottom?"
Siamese Dream Box Set Disc 1
The remastered version of the full album.
Siamese Dream Box Set Disc 1 tracklist
The original 13 songs. Fun fact: if you bought the Japanese import CD back in the day (like I did), you got a 14th song: "Pissant."
Siamese Dream Box Set Disc 2
Here's where all the good stuff lives: b-sides, demos, rarities...
Siamese Dream Box Set Disc 2 track list
I love that they didn't just throw the 'Siamese Dream'-era b-sides on here; as a fan, I have those already. There's some real, rare gems on here.
Siamese Dream Box Set Disc 3
Gotta throw in a live set from the era, right?
Siamese Dream Box Set Disc 3 track list
Live at the Metro, in their hometown of Chicago, the year the album dropped. And on DVD!
Siamese Dream booklet cover
Hey, pixie, weren't you on the cover of Disc 2?
Siamese Dream liner notes
Billy Corgan giving you the background, then walking you through the album track-by-track is worth the price of admission.
Siamese Dream lyrics
These are the singalong lyrics. There are better lyrics still to come.
Siamese Dream credits
Because you need to know who did what where.
Cherub Rock
This is my favorite part about the whole Deluxe Edition of 'Siamese Dream.'
Quiet
It's a postcard for each of the album's 13 songs.
Today
Billy Corgan gathered these old-timey photos for use in the original artwork for 'Siamese Dream.'
Hummer
Look closely: Billy wrote the lyrics for each of the songs on and around the photos.
Rocket
Some of the postcards get little Billy-doodles, too.
Disarm
When I first bought 'Siamese Dream' in late summer of '93, I picked it up on cassette tape.
Soma
All of these cool little lyric postcards were in the tape's fold-out artwork, but they were so tiny!
Geek U.S.A.
It took me a few years, but I tracked down a Japanese import version of the album at Tower Records on Newbury Street that had a booklet with a page for each image. I paid a pretty penny for it, but it was worth it.
Mayonaise
Imagine my surprise when I cuffed a copy of the 'Siamese Dream' Deluxe Edition and found reprints of the actual postcards!
Spaceboy
It was a 'Siamese Dream' come true!
Silverfuck
For real, this box set is a dream come true for Pumpkins fans who adore this album.
Sweet Sweet
I thought I remembered reading once that some of these photos are of Billy's family members, and that this is a picture of baby Billy with his mom. Fuzzy memory; cannot confirm.
Luna
In any event, I can't think of a better batch of album artwork.
Siamese Dream insert
I'd join the club, but I already have everything!
