The Smashing Pumpkins performed 17 tracks from their iconic 1995 double album at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago on November 21. This concert kicked off a week-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of *Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness*. The event was titled “A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness.”
Conductor James Lowe led the 60-piece orchestra and chorus, creating a unique experience for fans. The opening night featured classic songs like “Tonight, Tonight,” “1979,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” and “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans.” Lowe shared that adapting the heavier tracks for an orchestra posed some challenges. “It was like, what do I do with this? How do I translate that to an orchestra without it sounding kind of silly or cringey?” he said.
These concerts offer a fresh sonic and visual take on the album, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners. The performances also coincide with a deluxe reissue of the album, released on the same day. This six-LP package includes over 80 minutes of unreleased audio from the 1996 tour, liner notes from Billy Corgan, a tarot card set, and seven lithographs.
Billy Corgan reflected on the reissue, saying, “Unearthing these live recordings from the original lineup’s true, last large-scale tour was a labor of love. It’s bittersweet because once we blew apart in 1996, we were never quite the same emotionally or spiritually.”
The band recently wrapped up their 2025 Rock Invasion Tour at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Their final performance of this residency will take place on November 30.
