By Starlight Fan Sketch

Jesse Portland OR, US

I remember as a teen when this album came out being inspired by the artwork found in pages of the booklets. By Starlight was one of those songs that spurred me to create fan art associated with the album. 

MCIS Release Date

Andrea Ft. Wayne, US

Skipped school Sophomore year to go to the largest town near me to buy this. Never in my 16 years (at that point) had my mind been blown and my socks knocked off so hard🤘✨

it was 1996 and i walked into a record store.

Jenni North Canton, Ohio, US

at 12 years old i knew exactly what i wanted to get. Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness. My dad is a creative and I’d been hearing Bullet with Butterfly wings on the radio when he was in the studio photographing something or in the darkroom while processing film hearing Siamese Dream. i just got my first boombox and as part of the deal I got to pick out a CD.  

The whole way home i absorbed the artwork, the lyrics of the sounds i was getting ready to digest. That evening i lay in bed listening..not just that connecting with the emotion of every piece of music. i shared it with my best friend at the time. both of us forever hooked and connected thru these lyrics and melodies.

Fast forward some years and im out of college and a friend of mine gets into some trouble. we write back and forth, graphics, lyrics and songs from this album that help bring peace to his days without music. Over the years my best friends i have made, have a connection to SP that has been this forever bond.

Fast forward to this evening where another friend and I are swapping music trying to find something new and worth in this day & age of pro tools. Our conversation slips to SP and coming up short on anything new that can compare to the genius and magic of the music within those 2 discs that changed our lives so long ago. He introduced me to a semi recent interview that was absolutely amazing. It was so good to hear Billy talk about the music, the creative process. To hear Disarm again (on an amazing adult sound system) literally brought all the tears and feels.

It is and always will be my forever album that really connected me to SP and am so thankful I was where i was, when i was, to have the experiences i have had with these songs in my ears and life.

Smashing Pumpkins saved my life

Maura Martins São Paulo, BR

I was sixteen years old when I first heard Mellon Collie. I was a weird teenager living in a small town in the extreme south of Brazil, and these musics made me feel part of something bigger than me and all that was around me at that time. The record kept me company and made me feel less lonely, like someone finally understood me. It was a huge part of my life. Twenty-eight years later, I still feel this is my favorite album of all time.

Smashing Pumpkins first groupies

Guzzo Pinc Oak Park Illinois, US

My friends and I saw Smashing Pumpkins open for Eleventh Dream Day at the Metro in Chicago and were really into them so we were excited to catch them a few months later playing at Lounge Ax. Unfortunately, our fake IDs didn’t work with the door guy. We were so determined to hear anything at all that we stood in the alley behind the club and listened to the muffled sounds coming out of the back door. After a few hours (crazy that we stayed that long) the band actually came out back to have a smoke –I think they were taking a break before their encore. When they saw us they asked what we were doing there. We told them we came to see them but we couldn’t get in. Darcy lit up and said jokingly “Our first groupies!” They gave us some broken drumsticks and some picks and then went back in to finish the show.

Turn the lights on

Olivier Amsterdam, NL

On September 9 in 1993, after approximately 2 hours, the show at Vredenburg Utrecht was over. At least, that’s what everybody thought. But it seemed like Billy had a great time, and therefore stayed on stage. He asked to put the lights on, and asked the rest of the band to return on stage. Which they did, to play some more for us. This show is in my memories forever, vividly until this day. I was there with my brother and two friends, and we still talk about this once in a lifetime show!

“The letters have been sent on…”

Jose Francisco Javier Garcia Ortiz Tustin, CA, US

I’m probably the ONLY person who has a postcard like this… I remember writing to the PO Box address I found in the Siamese Dream liner notes. I waited, wrote another letter, lost patience, and I finally received this one! I’m also not sure if that if Billy’s handwriting… but this is worth a gem! Kept it in my binder of memories all these 25 years.

I used to live in a two story condominium, I would lock myself in my room that I shared with my brother back then, 9 years older than me, and would listen to Smashing Pumpkins on his boombox. My sister bought me the Adore CD the day it was released, still have it. I used to live across the street from a Kmart… I remember seeing the CD on the shelves.

Mornings with Mom

Mark Bandy Fargo, US

I was 14 when Adore was released and was taking drivers education across town.  Every morning my mother accompanied me and since she is a Pumpkins fan we listened to the CD.

We also took many trips that summer I got my license and the rule in our family was the driver got to choose the music. Naturally I chose Adore, especially for night driving.

First time seeing the Ava Adore video

Angie Brick, NJ, US

When I was in high school, I would put on MTV for music as I got ready in the morning. It was time to walk to the bus stop, as I reached to turn off the tv, the video for Ava Adore came on. I hadn’t seen it yet, so I put down my bag, sat on the floor, and subsequently missed the bus. 

Missed school. Got in trouble. Totally worth it.

Not your moms SP

Joseph Grigsy Chicago, US

Got me the SP were my mom’s music. She had Gish and Simease Dream in our CD/cassette collection. As a kid melancholie songs weee played on MTV all the time and at my first dance. Adore marked the first SP album I was aware of. Bring a vampire fan (Go Buffy!) I immediately loved the synth sound and music video involved with the Adore single. It was goth/emo pride before it was in style. I saw it as an embrace of a new style and rejection (or expansion/evolution)of my moms’s type of music. 

The beginning of a great friendship.

Miguel RM Mexico City, MX

The beginning of a great friendship.

I’m from Mexico. In high school I discovered the Smashing Pumpkins with their album Adore, in fact I attended their concert on this tour that was at the sports palace. In high school I used to take my book on the cd to do translations of the lyrics. One day a classmate came to the classroom with the Adore CD in his hands. Obviously I approached and we started talking. That was the beginning of one of the best friendships I have created in this world. Today I can say that he is my brother and Adore was the bridge that united us forever. Adore is my favorite record. Is incredible.

Adore

Sean B. New York, NY, US

Picked up Adore first day. Popped disc in and said “make me cry”. Then To Sheila plays…

FIRST SP CONCERT!

Rebecca Ottawa, CA

Back in 1998 – you had to line up and actually purchase your Ticketmaster tickets in person. My friend and I lost the original draw for the line space – but the winner didn’t show up. So they re-drew and suddenly, these two giddy 15 year olds were 2nd in line, getting 9th row tickets at Massey Hall in Toronto – Toronto even declared it Smashing Pumpkins Day. Now 25 years later, I’m taking my kid to SP for 12th row in September! 

Perfect memories

Ta Dallas tx, US

Adore. I can’t believe 25 years has gone by. When I played perfect over and over. 22 years old. One of the best years of my life. I play it and it takes me right back to those moments 

Adore, two times the first

Edgar Zamora Orpinel Guatemala, GT

As a teenager in 1998, my first Smashing Pumpkins CD was Adore. It was the album that made me a fan of the band. There was something about its sound and its boldness that simply blew my mind. 

In 2011, I traveled to LA for work and stopped at a record store. I looked in the used pile and found a 1998 mint-condition Adore vinyl copy. It was my first Smashing Pumpkins vinyl and my first vinyl ever; then, I didn’t even have a turntable to play it. 

There is something special about that album. Adore was and still is like a balm for my brain, heart, and soul.

Ava Adore poster

Lady Love mexico city, MX

this was august 11,1998

My first concert!  We had low budget but thanks to my brother he split the budget in to 3 so  we(sis,brother and I) could go to the concert.

outside the venue there were different radio stations giving away stuff related to The Smashing Pumpkins. So we were in the crowd of a radio booth and they say we will giveaway the Adore CD! to the person who jumps high! and my brother was jumping really high, they called him to the stage and they say ok well it wont be so easy . Would you shave your head like Billy in this moment? and he said yes of course! well they took his hair off!! and we were so happy ! they were throwing some poster just when the rain was starting to pour and i took one, all smashed and damaged cause i had to win it between different fans. Since that they i treasure this poster like gold, it is my motivation to some day i will make the poster concert of my beloved SP and guess what!! DREAMS COME TRUE!!! I LOVE YOU SMASHING PUMPKINS!

All at once, but not at all

Sean P SLC, Utah, US

I was touring on a bus when Adore was released. At the first stop during business hours 3 of us purchased the CD, sat down in our seats away from each other on the bus, but together counted down to synchronize play. Glances and smiles shot across the rows as we were wowed with what we all heard, which was nothing like we had ever heard. 

Perfect

Brian speer Lake stevens ,wa, US

I was 13 at the time i herd the song “perfect” and looked back on my amazing childhood , the song and album cemented those memories for me for life . Thanks smashing pumpkins !

Etching one of my favorite albums on my skin for life

Chloë Birmingham, GB

I remember being a teenager and finding this album and it always helped me find the calm in the storm. I wanted it with me forever. 

A grower

Marc B Montreal, QC, CA

I was 15 when Adore was released. Had been an SP fan since the release of Siamese. It was such a disconnect from what I knew from the band’s previous work  that I couldn’t relate at all with the album when it came out. Took me at least 10 years to finally get with it. I’m 40 now, Adore is 25 and this is one of their best albums in my opinion. Love this one. 

Homeless, and Adore

Quentin Yslas Pueblo, CO, US

This was only a year or so ago, me and my family were homeless staying with family members, we moved in with my grandma for some time. Throughout that time I would get up super early in the morning, before everybody was awake, and I’d listen to Adore using Winamp, those are some of my favourite memories with the album. Thank you Billy Corgan and everybody else who helped you create this album, I’m only a 13 year old, (Yes, I put I was over 18, but I just really want to share this, just in case Corgan does see it.), but you’ve still made a good impact on my life.

Transition

Robert Kimes Jonesboro, IL, US

Adore came out 4 days before my high school graduation. Just as the Pumpkins evolved, so did I, into a college freshman ready for the next phase of my life! 25 years later, SP is STILL my fave band, and I have been for almost 29 years! 

J’Adore Adore

Verona London, GB

A die hard Pumpkins fan. I was keen to see how SP could top Mellon Collie. After the death of BC’s mother, the album was sublime. Melodic, melancholic and a wonderful ode to someone. The gig was interesting as the album was released afterwards but the full band was like nothing I had ever seen before! Fab x

Twilight Fades

Liam Norwich, GB

I remember it well. Riding in the back of a friends car after the release, it’s night and the seats were low so I could rest my head back and watch the stars zip by above whole Adore washed over us from the car stereo. 

Adore, always

McLambo Ermelo, NL

Of the 25 years I know and love this band, SP is the only one that can give me this unique sense of melancholy; little sad (dont know why), longing and thankful feeling. ❣️

SP saved my life

Amanda C Los Angeles, CA, US

I apologize beforehand for any dramatics – haha!
My tale is not new or very good- My family moved to Texas when I entered the 8th grade.  I lost all my friends, everything.  I desperately tried to fit in to all of the pre-established cliques- jocks, brains, etc.  Finally, I tried “country”- boots, hat, you name it!- all to no avail.  I still had no real friends and felt alone and misunderstood.  By the time I was in 10th grade, I’d become moody, angry, and finally suicidal.  (Country music did NOT help this feeling!)  I didn’t tell anyone- had no one TO tell!- finally a girl in my homeroom class, Mary Climer (I will NEVER forget her!) must have sensed something was off & I unloaded everything.  She then told me 2 things: 1) “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” and 2) Listen to Smashing Pumpkins’ Adore cd.  She was a HUGE Billy fan and loaned me her disc.  I went home and listened to the whole thing in one sitting.  Then I played it again, and again, and again.  I returned hers and made my parents take me to the record store to buy my own copy.  For the first time, I felt that my pain and feelings and angst were understood.  I found my outlet.  I no longer cared about fitting in and very slowly, I found myself.   Once I did that- I found people who liked me for me.  I’ve been a SP fan ever since.  (And Mary was in my group of friends to go to our senior Prom.)  I truly credit SP and Mary for saving my life.