The Smashing Pumpkins to hold concert in August

American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins will be returning to Korea for the first time in ten years for a concert next month, according to concert promoter Access Entertainment on Monday.

The band will perform at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on August 14, making it the second time for frontman Billy Corgan to perform in Korea -- he held his first concert in the country in July 2000 ahead of the band's break up the same year.

The Smashing Pumpkins formed in Chicago in 1988 with original members Corgan (lead vocal), Jimmy Chamberlin (drummer), James Iha (guitarist) and D'arcy Wretzky and Melissa Auf der Maur (bass guitarists).

They have released many albums but their second record "Siamese Dream" led them to mainstream fame. They were known as one of the most successful and acclaimed bands in the 1990s, selling over 18.7 million albums in the United States, with many hits including "1979," "Today," "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Doomsday Clock."

However, the group broke up in 2000 over internal issues, drug use and faltering record sales. Now, the band consists of members Corgan, Jeff Schroder (guitarist), Nicole Fiorentino (bassist) and Mike Byrne (drummer).

They are currently on a 12-stop tour in North America and will arrive in Korea after they take to the stage of Japan's Summer Sonic Festival in early August.

Tickets for The Smashing Pumpkins' concert are available at online reservation site Interpark (www.interpark.co.kr).

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@