Summer of Love and Pumpkins

Seb Hassocks, GB

When I was 15 and doing my GCSEs at school, I discovered the Pumpkins and instantly fell in love with them. It opened up whole new ideas for what music could be and really helped me get more into listening to alt rock stuff. (It’s my favourite genre now)

I listened to MCIS on repeat while revising for my exams and even tried to learn some songs on guitar, giving me a nice escape from the stress of the exams. I constantly tried to imitate Billy’s tone with the limited resources I had but never really came close. Still, it was a strange time in my life and I’ll always remember how it weirdly got me into one of my favourite bands of all time.

How I Met My BFF

Apryl Worcester, MA, US

About 20 years ago I was at a house party when all of a sudden someone’s iPod shuffle played “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” over the stereo system. Suddenly both me and another girl excitedly scream out YESSSSSS at the exact same time!!!!! We immediately make eye contact and point to each other in excitement through the crowd of people just knowing we were about to become best friends over our shared love of the smashing pumpkins. Well it’s 20 years later we are indeed still BFFs! ANY time the pumpkins are in the Boston area we are THERE and we go ALL out! We get all gussied up in crazy outfits, scream sing every song, and dance all night like silly stupid teenagers. We even got yelled at once at the Orpheum theater for dancing too much in the aisle! 🙄 We also both got terrible matching tattoos of a bullet with butterfly wings.. it’s the ugliest tattoo.. it came out just awful! But we both still have it! 😅 We love you Billy! 🖤

Bodies

Joseph Moran West Kingston RI, US

The first time I heard the intro to “Bodies” I was sure the boombox chewed up my blue CD, something was terribly wrong, for ten seconds I panicked. 

Then the burst of guitars and the joke was on me! 

Sigh. Laying on my bed, nightlamp on, reading the brown lyric book, again and again. Thanks Billy, James, Darcy JC

Ellie AU

Growing up Mum would always play 1979 and Tonight, Tonight was our family song. Mum passed away in June – we played both songs at her memorial. Attached is a picture of us at Smashing Pumpkins in Melbourne 2023. So many memories of such a wonderful album that will always remind me of her. 

On my skin forever

Greta Aubry Busca, IT, IT

I decided to share this photo which for me contains many beautiful memories. For my first smashing pumpkins concert last year, I wanted to put the cover of this fantastic album on my skin forever. The emotions I felt that day are indescribable, I have never felt so much joy and emotion, usually when it happens I detach myself from reality and I don’t enjoy the moment, but both during the first and second concert I went to I managed to fully experience my emotions and be moved. I have a band and hearing you live motivated me even more to want to become a great guitarist and convey the emotions that you convey to me. Mellon collie and the infinite sadness is a magical album, my father introduced it to me and it kind of ties us up. Your music pushes me every day to move forward even though this last period is not very easy for me, thank you for understanding me through your lyrics and never letting me give up.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness inspired room 🌛🌞✨

Fleur Telemark, NO

Two years ago I was in a dark place and during that time I started listening to the Smashing Pumpkins. I could release my emotions into the music and I felt understood, without having to say a word. I decided to buy a ticket for the upcoming concert, unsure if I would actually be able to go. But half a year later, me and my fiance were at the front of the audience watching the band perform live. When ‘Tonight, Tonight’ started playing it hit me, I was there and everything was better. Life can change, you’re not stuck in vain. It became one of my core memories and whenever I feel sad this memory brings me joy. Two months after the concert, the songs played on our wedding day 😊 My husband also became a big fan and we created a Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness inspired room together ✨

smashing pumpkins

Preston Dinong oceanside california , US

i always listening to mellon collie and the infinite sadness smashing pumpkins my favorite songs is ava adore, bullet butterfly wings, chrome jets, perfect,  1979,  the end is the beginning is the end, thirty three , tonight tonight 

My way to say thx

Enzo Castro Cruz Alta, Delfín Gallo, AR

So excited to share this picture with you, guys!
This is the start of my full sleeve, and the whole thing is going to be a humble homage to this album, the one I always go back to. Thanks for ur music. Greetings from Tucumán, Argentina.

MCIS cover reimagining

Dennis Los Angeles, US

This is my tribute piece of the MCIS album cover. 

Old crayon doodle I’ve done.

Bee US

One of the first songs I remember listening to as a child was Bullet with Butterfly Wings. MCIS is an album I will always love deeply, it was my first album I heard from the band, it’s my profile picture, all my friends know me as the smashing pumpkins enjoyer. One of my favorite memories was seeing the band with my mother live, full circle moment. Happy 30th MCIS!!

Mellon Collie Mural

Salvador ramirez Mexicali, MX

Mural painted in my honor, i was sick and needed surgery, some of my friends and colleagues comissioned this work of art as a “get well” present or a memorial,2 years later i’m still here

My SP Vintage Shirt

Stian Ronil Cebu, PH

one of my sp grailed shirts

In Memory of Matcha

Eszter Sydney, NSW, AU

When my baby birdie Matcha passed away in 2023, Here’s No Why got me through it, so i got this tattoo to commemorate her. I miss her every day. (tattoo done by blackcattatts)

Tonight, Tonight changed me

Ben Staten Island, US

“Tonight, tonight” came into my life very randomly and unexpectedly. I knew of the smashing pumpkins but never listened to them before. But that one random day I heard that song for the first time changed something in me. It felt like the answers I had spent years searching for were found in those lyrics. From the very second the song finished I knew in my heart that something had changed in me, and I am forever grateful for how it has affected my life.

Cool kids never have the time…

Amy Loera Charles Town, WV, US

I was became a fan at age 13 when Siamese Dream came out…life was changed at 15 when Mellon Collie debuted. Thirty years to the day (today, 10/23) 1979 comes on the FM radio in the car and my 14 year old said “ahh I love this song…turn it up..have you ever heard this song mom?” And I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry…so I did both. 

“Love can last Forever”

Simona Toscana, Italia , IT

“Love can last Forever”…

And my love for Smashing Pumpkins began in 1995 and last Forever 💜

My first ever gig

Jonathan Kirk Manchester , GB

My first ever concert was SP at Manchester Arena on Melon Collie tour.  I was 14.  It was amazing! 

Hearing zero for the first time

Caleb Houston , US

I was about 11 or 12 years old. My parents were driving us home from our grandparents house. My brother let me borrow his mellon collie and the infinite sadness cd for the first time. During the bridge in zero ‘and god is empty just like me’ I felt a rush of fear and excitement come over me because my father was a pastor and I was afraid maybe he could hear those lyrics even though I had headphones on. 

SP girl for life!!! 🤘

Michelle Edmond, OK, US

Started listening to SP in the early 90’s. My 1st SP concert was MCIS in 1996. Blew my mind!!!! Still a HUGE SP fan after all of these years!!! 

Mellon Collie Tattoo

Joel Williams Christchurch , NZ

Got this done by ScottyC Tattoo a couple of years ago, absolutely love it.

Wedding day

Diana Gonzalez Toronto, ON, CA

In 2005 my fiancé and I decided it would be a lovely secret/inside joke for me to walk down the aisle to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. A lovely song with a title perhaps not fit for a wedding. Only one guest came up to us afterward and chuckled at the song choice – we love a good music nerd!  

While I’d love the submit the video so you can hear and see, it lives on a DVD, so this photo will have to suffice

The Aeroplane Flies High Box set

Jodi Walnut Creek, CA , US

I was a young mom in college, living outside of Chicago when this boxset came out, after spending the little fun money I had on this, I brought it everywhere, like it was a suitcase, I wore it to death, the CDs scratched as I listened to it with my toddler in the car, every day. Read that booklet endless times. Soaked in every image, every word. Well, it got stolen out of my trunk after a few years. Devastated. Couldn’t replace it. Fast forward over 25 years and that same daughter who was only about 7 when it happened, and never forgot how sad I was when it was gone, found one in SWEDEN on Ebay, and gave it to me for Christmas. Best gift ever. Had to buy myself a CD player again though! 

The Cupid’s arrow… worked!

Marie BR

I discovered SP through my boyfriend in 2022, while we were still friends. He showed me his entire collection, and in 2023 we we started dating long distance. SP was one of the things that brought us together; our love for music made us more connected. He dedicated a bunch songs to me, and Cupid de Locke is one that I feel is really special for us. 

The photo is of us in 2024 when we were finally able to see each other, for the second time. He always wears a SP shirt!

SP Winter 96’

James K Lowery Alabaster, AL, US

Originally from Detroit I’d just moved to Alabama. Homesick for a girlfriend I caught my first ever flight back to the D that winter. I went to stay with her and almost immediately got into an argument, and she asked me to leave (young love). With no place to go a friend offered for me to stay. He was a big SP fan and had recently bought the album. We listen to it constantly my whole visit. It turned one of my most awful experiences into one of the best memories in music I have today. 

Hillary Ojai ca , US

My sister and me, Christmas 1996

Cupid De Locke

Abraham Blackfoot Idaho , US

My Love and I. This was our first date and I played The Smashing Pumpkins to relax. Their music reminds me of the love I felt in air that day.