the first one

Goran Mitrovic HR

It was the first CD I ever bought, based on the last half of BWBW I caught on MTV. Never heard of SP before (no Internet back then) and after buying the CD, haven’t heard for anyone else in the next two years or so.

Once Upon a Time in My Life

Dennis Ibanez Inglewood, CA, US

It was rainy Saturday afternoon in the month of an inter dimensional-ized March and April in Southern California, where constant cloudy weather coated the sky and personal atmosphere. I was sitting on the side of my bed at 13 years old organizing my YuGiOh cards, and alternative music was playing from my CD/Radio/iPod player I begged my parents to get me for my birthday. U2’s “No Line on the Horizon” was released, The Killers’ “Day and Age” had already entered, Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” was immortal in the airwaves. Needless to say, music was noticeably poppier with an intent to resonate a cheerful, but less spicer, soulful note into the eardrums; that is what pop music’s objective is, as given. Leaving my KISS, Iron Maiden, and Pop-Punk, and British Pop chapter of music listening, I was stilled tuned into LA 987 alt fm (and Pandora radio was not invented yet). Songs followed each other in repetition: Closing Time, Song 2, Adam’s Song, Wonderwall, I Will Buy You a New Life, Human, Sex on Fire, Panic Switch. So such a variety of artists, right? Then I stumbled into Smashing Pumpkins songs. I realized such a variety of tonality by one single artist. An array of emotions triggered, transmitted by the perfect chemistry of instruments and vocals, an alchemy of destruction and beauty, sadness and a means to rebel, nostalgia and trauma, musically disciplined and venturesome. I can respectfully say, in my humbled opinion, alternative radio music painted a canvass that VH1 or Fuse music video cable channels could not even with the advantage of visual display. “1979”, “Tonight, Tonight”, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”, “Zero”, “Tonight Reprise – Version 1”, “Today”, “Disarm”,“Landslide”. Thank you, SP. You’ve given my memories to which make it a bright past and a revolution to carry on forward. You’ve stricken more than a chord, lift more than an imprint on people. I could not imaging the hurt and distress that had to be experienced to birth the beauty we’ve come to experience. I hope good health finds and bonds with you for the rest of time. Love.

Discovery

Alejo Buenos Aires, AR

First time I heard about SP I was in Paraguay in 1995. A local band suggested me to listen to this alternative band that was different to everything. I bought Mellon colllie and couldn’t understand until some days. Now they are my way to live. Thanks. 

Multistory midnight misery

Tammy Woodland Staffordshire, GB

In mid naughties my boyfriend and I went to see Kings of Leon in Manchester. We parked in a 24 hour multistory (parking lot) and because we were always late for everything had to park second from the top of about 8 floors high. Watched an awesome gig went to a bar after (I was sober!) then went back to the car around 11:00 only to find there was horrendous traffic trying to leave,  we decided to sit and wait as we didn’t know how long it works take to clear. Worst decision! We had no food,  water I was stone cold sober, tones of people kept their engines running there was no escape from the cooking fumes, we left it too late to give up & had back to a bar they’d ask closed. Trapped in this parking lot hell I could feel panic creeping in from behind my unconscious thoughts when……. Tonight Tonight came on the radio. We looked at each other and smiled, trapped in this misery after midnight realising it’s bad but it could always be worse we had had an amazing night. So we wound the windows down, turned the radio up full blast and sang as loud as we could through the fumes,  others joined in, we all embraced our misery and for a few glorious minutes I didn’t want to be anywhere else. We did eventually get out around 3am and never knew what the hold up was but that song saved our sanity. We also played Tonight Tonight at our wedding, thanks SP love your art. Mrs Tammy Woodland.

Childhood Drawings

Epiphany North Adams, MA, US

At age 10, the first album I was allowed to buy was “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness”. While it would play through my boom box, I would draw what each song sounded to me. “1979” always felt carefree and made me feel safe, and that is still apparent looking back at it 12 years later. 

Untitled

Eliana Hershberg Jerusalem, IL

My mother just told me that she used to sing goodnight and farewell to me when I was a baby. I thought this was very sweet. 

The weekend before the debut of MCIS

Andrea Dooley (DeFilippo) Bloomington, IL, US

Well, here’s to hoping we can submit more than one memory! This would be memory number one for me. We went to the two surprise shows in Peoria and Dekalb, IL(with a complimentary after show pass from Billy)..leading up to the infamous show and debut of MCIS at the Riv!  We will never forget the amazing shows-Us figuring out that Evil Clown had the free tickets for the Riv and then heading to the show. Omg, what a night. Even with the power outage. I will never forget hearing the songs for the first time. What a surreal time! So, who introduced us to the album?

The Pumpkins!

Discman

Michael Watson Yucaipa, CA, US

A memory I had of Mellon Collie, particularly Bodies.

At the Library

Alexander Huber San Jose, US

I was 11, thee year 1997. I moved to San Jose from Sacramento. There was a library across the street and I noticed one day they has CDs and MCIS was jist there staring at me. I checked it out, listened and was so enthralled that I never returned it. I got what I could from the record as an 11 year old and found new lessons and feels from each listen since then. 

First album/concert

Lance Entrekin Crawford, TN, US

I was a trumpet player in beginner band and my section leader told me she had a band I need to hear. I was 13 and just getting into music. She told me if I liked it to let her know bc they were going to the concert the next weekend. I took Mellon Collie home and devoured it. It changed my life and is still my favorite album to this very day. I immediately asked my dad for a guitar for Christmas. So two weeks later, my friends (who were older than me) along with one of our substitute teachers, snuck me out of the house and took me to the SP concert at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS. I remember it was right before Thanksgiving and WPC said something about remember that turkey you are eating was once wild and free lol. That night and that album changed my life. It was my first concert. Will forever be the ruler I measure every show against for the rest of my life. Thank you. 

Kris Bordeaux, FR

C’est tout simplement l’album qui m’a donné envie de faire de la musique.

On Repeat

Heather Van Pelt Stratford, Ontario, CA

I remember purchasing MCIS as soon as I could save up enough babysitting money. It was a double album so it was more expensive than other albums I’ve bought but I didn’t care.

Both CD’s remained on constant repeat in my Sony CD  player for at least a year, maybe more.I was OBSESSED!

 ZERO is still one of my favourite songs today! Thank you for this masterpiece ❤️

Tonight, Tonight

Alina Cervantes Acapulco, MX

I used to listen this album everynight in my post partum, while i was alone with my newborn baby and my husband was working 💜 One night while we were apart we dedicated each other “Tonight,Tonight” in our Instagram Stories 🥺 We had no idea we did it at the same time. It was amazing 💜

Untitled

Stephen Cambridge, MA, US

When I was around 13 I had not had much music exposure outside of movie soundtracks. I had a friend who really enjoyed the alt rock of the 90s and he introduced it to me, so I asked my parents for a stereo. When I got it for my birthday, I plugged it in and quickly tuned it to the radio station my friend told me he liked. The Very first song I heard on that radio was Tonight Tonight and I instantly fell in love with the smashing pumpkins and stayed that way for the next 23 years of my life. 

In a better world

Brad Wallace Lancaster, PA, US

My MCIS memory was of a 13 yr old me, riding a bicycle 8 miles to a local video rental store that had the double box jewel case sitting on their counter.  Bought it with all 1’s and 5’s.  Rode home with the bag containing that magic hanging from my handlebars.  One of the best days of my life for multiple reasons. 

Cupid De Locke

Annie Freeman Jackfield, Shropshire, GB

I remember the lushness of a summer as a teenager whilst I was meant to be studying for exams. Listening to this album on repeat gave me so many ideas, I sacked off my work and made this video for Cupid De Locke. It blows my mind that a 17 year old version of me running around their garden with a camera and flowers in their hair has been seen around the world nearly three quarters of a million times and connects me with other SP fans. I’m honoured my face even comes up when you google the song! 

Believe in me as i believe in You Tonight 🖤

Alina Cervantes Acapulco, MX

I used to listen this album everynight in my post partum, while i was alone with my newborn baby and my husband was working 💜 One night while we were apart we dedicated each other “Tonight,Tonight” in our Instagram Stories 🥺 We had no idea we did it at the same time. It was amazing 💜

Sp saved me

Wim Van Kelst Antwerp, BE

When l listened cinstantly to Mellon Collie, I was in my 2nd year of nurse studies, it was a tough year for me with a lot of techniques to learn and demands getting higher in our hospital practice. Your music kept me going and your concert @Flandersexpo was the highlight of that academic year.

What I still remember was Filter warming up, the set started with Tonight Tonight, the whole crowd going up and down during Bullet. Amazing light show and never ever saw such impressing drumwork as I saw tonight by Jimmy. I missed out your gig in Antwerp because I was afraid of losing my good memory but if you come back, I will be there. Love to you all, Billy, James and Jimmy from the bottom of my heart.

Ps the box “The aeroplain” is the only box I ever bought, love the artwork 💜

The Best album of the World

João Porto alegre, BR

The best!!!!!

CD walkman

Stef Wolverhampton, Shropshire, GB

The day it came out I queued outside the recordshop to buy it. Double CD, I loved it instantly. A 90s grungy girl with short cropped hair and huge headphones excitedly got the CD Walkman out, but it was the 90s, so you had to hold the Walkman perfectly flat, the slightest jolt and the CD would stop. Every day on my journey to and from school, two jerky bus rides. It could take 20 minutes to get through a single song 😂

That album is perhaps the most played album of my teenaged years, but the strongest memory is that CD Walkman jerking to a stop

With my vinyl copy, October 2017

Beau Boudreaux Birmingham, AL, US

I first heard this album on a thursday night in late March or early April during my sophomore year in high school (weird the details we remember). When the title track gave way to the opening strains of ‘Tonight, Tonight’, I knew this was something big. Since then, SP has become one of the artists that I associate with that time of year; a time of rebirth, a time for discovering new things and exploring life’s possibilities. 

Once a thief…

Víctor Merida Arica, CL

I was around 15 or 16 yo and had no money to spend on anything. So, when I saw that one of the guys I used to be around of, friend of a friend, had the album, I ask him if we could listen to it at his place. The guy lived alone almost, so we gathered around a pack of cigarettes and wine, laying on the carpet and my mind was blown. 

So I decided it. It is to this day, the only time I’ve stolen something. 

And it changed my life forever.

I won’t deny the change

Josh Groppel Nashville, TN, US

In early 2016, my then fiancé and I called off our wedding and went separate ways. This mentally and emotionally crushed me in so many ways and I fell back into music. MC&tIS was one of my most played albums that year, and Galapagos was so impactful in helping me move on. I got the words of growth tattooed to my ankle. “I won’t deny the change.”

Birth

Patrick Diet Saintes, FR

Ma fille est née sur cet album il y a un peu plus de neuf ans. C’est mon album préfère et je suis fier qu’elle vous ai entendu en premier en venant au monde. 

Prenez soins de vous, de ceux qui ont reformé le groupe mais aussi de D’Arcy qui ne va pas bien me semble-t- il. 

I love smashing… For aller m’y life… 

Teenage Years

Shaunagh New Mills, Derbyshire, GB

My memories may seem boring compared to some, but smashing pumpkins are my total fave. In my teenage years I wasn’t exactly popular and had a lot going on, I may have been 19 years late but this album really helped me through all that and made me feel like I belonged. Love the merge of thrash and peaceful tracks. All I can say is thank you 🙏🏻 

Mellon Collie saved my life

C IE

In the summer of 1995 I was subjected to child abuse that left lifelong scars. That October an album came out that showed me there was hope in the darkness and that I would survive. That it was not my fault these things happened and others have been where I was and persevered. MCIS will always be my favourite album period. It is a light in a dark year for me and has remained a constant in the 25 years since. It is impossible to express my feelings other than to thank WPC and the pumpkins for this masterpiece. Singular, Beautiful, timeless. From a lifelong fan