Because they counted from December 1987 to December 2000, which is... 13 years indeed.

Hmm... Let's all count together here... 1988 (1), 1989 (2), 1990 (3), 1991 (4), 1992 (5), 1993 (6), 1994 (7), 1995 (8), 1996 (9), 1997 (10), 1998 (11), 1999 (12) 2000 (13). It seems to me that NOT 1987, but 1988 - 2000 equals 13 years. If it had been 1987 - 2000 it would be 14 years.

Continue this trend and you get -- 2001 (14), 2002 (15), 2003 (16), 2004 (17), 2005 (18), 2006 (19), 2007 (20), 2008 (21). I'm no mathmatician, but there it is in plain print that everyone can understand. The reason for this is that the year 1988 actaully = 0 (zero). Let's not forget that 0 really is a number and is a placeholder. So in my scale above... if you replace the number 1 next to the year 1988 with a zero (such as 1988 (0), 1989 (1), 1990 (2), etc, etc) you'd eventually get to 2008 (20). Afterall, doesn't 2008 - 1988 = 20?? But yes, the roots of the band with Billy and James may have began in 1987. However the first release was this in 1988.

http://www.spfc.org/songs-releases/discog.html?discog_id=137

And "I Fall" was also recorded in 1988 acording to this:

http://www.spfc.org/band/studio.html?session_id=2

...sounds yummy

I wasn't trying to say that SP should play on October 5th, but that was technically the first tour date with Jimmy in the band. When the Pumpkins did the Adore tour, they call it their 10th anniversary, because it was the 10th anniversary of Billy, James, and D'arcy playing together. So 1988 is and is not the 20th anniversary at the same time. While 1987 was technically the start, the Pumpkins were not in full swing until 1988, so that's why they use that as a sign post.

You wear your name very well. I'm almost with you for this one. It is true that this year should be the 21st anniversary, but whether or not they did anything between 2001 and 2005-6 doesn't change the fact that it's been 21 years since the birth of the group. I get the point though, you know your facts.

please please please play somewhere in nyc or long island between now and the end of august when im home! ill be so damn excited!

and even more excited if you play my all time favorite - porcelina of the vast oceans.

-ashley

anniversary is the end of ten years of rebuilding, we'll find a new band AND a new man, since Smashing Pumpkin is seen like an extension of himself by himself.

It is really exciting to see begin a new cycle for Smashing Pumpkin.

We wish for you the expansion of your world, hopefully including us.

"[I] look at the first 10 years as sort of like a car crash, like whoa, what happened?"

Why is Billy so intent on slating the early years? It's getting quite sad. Reality check Billy : Zeitgeist is not very good. You solo album was much better.

Really, I'm a very loyal Smashing Pumpkins fan, everybody knows that. And I'm game for every party and every celebration the band wants to have. Release every cd or dvd and I'm first in line to buy them. No issues on that part. But please, don't call it the 20th anniversary celebration now in 2008.

Firstly, the starting year of the Smashing Pumpkins was, technically speaking, 1987. Why? Because James Iha and Billy Corgan recorded a song called "I Fall" in December 1987 and that was later released on a promo/demo tape with clearly the name Smashing Pumpkins on it. And secondly, remember that full page Metro ad in the Chicago Reader on December 8? It clearly said "On behalf of Chicago and your fans worldwide - thanks for an incredible thirteen years, Metro". Because they counted from December 1987 to December 2000, which is... 13 years indeed.

I strongly disagree with davidp2007 to set a date somewhere in October, just because they played live as a band with 4 members in 1988 in that same month. It's not about playing live, it's not about the (number of) members. Instead, it's about the name, the concept, and the music.

So, if you want to include the hiatus period, then 2007 should have seen the 20th anniversary celebration.

Oh, wait. Did I mention a hiatus? Yes I did. There was no Smashing Pumpkins' working concept or band by that name between 2001 and 2005. Am I right? Or were Zwan, Billy Corgan solo and Jimmy Chamberlin Complex just the Smashing Pumpkins in disguise? Think not.

To cut my rant short: in my opinion we are now into the 16th year of the Smashing Pumpkins. In every serious music history book should, and hopefully will, be written: Smashing Pumpkins 1987 - 2000, 2005 - ????. All other info is wrong & besides the truth.

To the answer the question about what date would mark the 20th anniversary, that would be October 5th. On October 5th, 1988, the Pumpkins played their first show as a four piece (and their first show with Jimmy) at Metro in Chicago. Hope that helps. If my memory serves me correctly, the first show under the name Smashing Pumpkins was July 9, 1988 at Chicago 21 nightclub, but that was just Billy and James. They played one or two dates at the Avalon after that after D'arcy joined.

David

Just those 3 cities? Ugh.. so much for my hope for a Kansas City date..