My 7th grade English teacher, who use to be a roadie, took 4 of us students to see Silverchair at the Hollywood Palladium as a reward. We got to the concert early so we were walking around and passed by the Palace. There was a sign outside saying “The Smashing Pumpkins playing here tonight”. Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness had just been released a few weeks earlier and that teacher had introduced us to the Smashing Pumpkins and Silverchair at the same time so we were so excited to pass by and hear the music coming from the front door. Then our teacher saw an old roadie friend carrying in equipment. After they reconnected he asked if we wanted to come in and watch the show!  We headed into the side entrance and straight to the front of the stage. I was mesmerized. Billy looked me dead in the eyes and started singing “The world is a Vampire” and then played the unforgettable riff that follows. My entire world was changed. The next year I was facing a lot of depression. The lyrics “today is the greatest day” help me live to see another. I plastered my walls and ceiling with Smashing Pumpkins posters and pictures. I spent my lunch money making copies of every magazine article they appeared in. My collage was such a beautiful work of art and reminded me that I could make every day the greatest day as long as that’s what I choose…and f*ck everything else. The Smashing Pumpkins are my angels that saved me from myself.