The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins (Photo credit: Tyler Curtis)

The Smashing Pumpkins:

The Rats in a Cage Tour

Runs through November 14th, 2026

By Curtis Newart

October 1st, 2026

The Smashing Pumpkins (Photo credit: Linda Strawberry)

The Smashing Pumpkins celebrated the 30th anniversary of their hit album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in 2025 and are keeping the party going with a North American tour this fall.

The concerts will be split into two distinct sets per show: the first features Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness songs in a theatrical setting, and the second spans deep cuts ranging from their Gish album to their Aghori Mhori Mei album.

Watch the promo video below.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS ANNOUNCE: THE RATS IN A CAGE TOUR

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness 30th Anniversary Reissue

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (30th Anniversary Deluxe Reissue)

The Smashing Pumpkins released the 30th Anniversary Deluxe Reissue of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in November 2025.

The expanded reissue features the remastered original double album plus over 80 minutes of unreleased live audio from their 1996 Infinite Sadness Tour.

Previously unreleased live tracks include:

"Geek U.S.A." (Live from January 30th, 1996, in San Diego)
"Jellybelly" and "Zero" (Live from June 29th, 1996, in Detroit)
"Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans / Beautiful / Rocket" (Live medley from July 3rd, 1996, in Cleveland)

The vinyl box set (priced at $345 US) includes a hardbound book with new liner notes by Billy Corgan, a custom tarot card deck, and framable lithographs inside a velvet slipcase.

Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (30th Anniversary Edition) Super Deluxe 6LP

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, the band's third album, originally debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in November 1995.

The album was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 2nd, 2012 for selling over ten million units in the United States.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings (Official Music Video)

The original album produced four Billboard Hot 100 hits.

"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" became the band's first top-40 hit on the Hot 100, peaking at #22 on January 6th, 1996, followed by "1979" (#12), "Tonight, Tonight" (#36), and "Thirty-Three" (#18).

The Smashing Pumpkins - 1979 (Official Music Video)

The 30th-anniversary rollout included a special seven-show opera titled A Night of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, starring lead singer Billy Corgan backed by the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Additionally, high-end chocolatier Vosges Haut-Chocolat released The Mellon Collie Sessions, a limited-edition $85 (US) luxury box set with chocolate bars inspired by songs from the album.

The Mellon Collie Sessions limited edition chocolate box set by Vosges Haut-Chocolat

The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins (L to R): D'arcy Wretzky, Jimmy Chamberlin, Billy Corgan and James Iha (Photo credit: Paul Bergen)

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago in 1988 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

The current lineup consists of Corgan, Iha, and Chamberlin.

Their debut album, Gish, peaked at #195 on the Billboard 200 on September 7th, 1991. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA on February 5th, 1999 for selling one million units in the US, making it one of the most successful indie albums ever.

Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins_edited.jpg

Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins (1991)

Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins (1991)

Siamese Dream (1993), the band's sophomore album, marked their breakthrough into mainstream music and established them in the alt-rock scene.

Hit songs included "Today", "Disarm", and "Cherub Rock". The album went quadruple platinum, turning the band into arena headliners.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Today

They have released 13 studio albums, and have won two GRAMMY Awards and seven MTV Video Music Awards.

The Smashing Pumpkins at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards (L to R): Billy Corgan, D'arcy Wretzky, James Iha (Photo credit: Jeff Christensen)

"The End Is the Beginning Is the End", which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Hard Rock Performance, was originally released as a single from the soundtrack to the film Batman & Robin (1997).

Smashing Pumpkins - The End is the Beginning is the End

Reading Festival (1992)

The Smashing Pumpkins played The Reading Festival in England on August 29th,1992. Corgan reportedly smashed his guitar during the set, inadvertently hitting the president of their record label in the process.

The Smashing Pumpkins - Bury Me / Siva (Reading Festival 1992)

The Simpsons

The Smashing Pumpkins on The Simpsons (Courtesy TVgag.com)

On May 19th, 1996, The Smashing Pumpkins voiced animated versions of themselves in the Season 7 episode of The Simpsons titled "Homerpalooza".

The episode featured the band touring on the Hullabalooza music festival festival circuit alongside Sonic Youth, Cypress Hill, and Peter Frampton.

Homer joins the festival as a carnival freak who gets shot in the stomach with a cannonball.

The Smashing Pumpkins on "The Simpsons" - S7E24 'Homerpalooza'

Saturday Night Live

The Smashing Pumpkins on Saturday Night Live (1993 promo)

The Smashing Pumpkins have appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live three times.

Their October 30th, 1993 appearance marked the band's national television debut. The episode was hosted by Christian Slater. The band performed "Cherub Rock" and "Today".

On November 11th, 1995, they performed "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and "Zero". The episode was hosted by Quentin Tarantino.

On September 26th, 1998, they performed "Perfect" and appeared in an iconic Roxbury Guys sketch alongside Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, and host Cameron Diaz.