The news of Billy Corgan launching a solo project called Billy Corgan And The Machines Of God has left many fans scratching their heads, especially considering that the project is centered around The Smashing Pumpkins‘ most iconic material. Corgan’s new project will focus on material from the band’s beloved albums like Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness, Machina/The Machines of God, Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, and Aghori Mhori Mei — all albums that could easily be performed by The Smashing Pumpkins themselves. So why is Corgan doing this under a new project name instead of just taking The Smashing Pumpkins on the road with these songs?
The situation gets even more peculiar because Billy Corgan And The Machines Of God will feature Kiki Wong (Smashing Pumpkins guitarist), Jake Hayden (drummer), and Kid Tigrrr (Jenna Fournier, bassist). This is strange because the lineup shares much in common with The Smashing Pumpkins’ current lineup, suggesting that Corgan could very well be performing these songs with The Pumpkins but has opted to create a new entity altogether.
As it stands, there’s no clear explanation for why Corgan is choosing to revisit these iconic albums with a project that feels separate from The Smashing Pumpkins, especially when these records are a major part of the band’s legacy. Is it a creative decision? A personal one? Or perhaps a new approach to the music he’s spent so much time crafting? Fans have been left to speculate.
What makes this even stranger is that the dates are aligned with The Smashing Pumpkins‘ broader touring schedule, and Billy Corgan is very much still the leader of The Smashing Pumpkins. The possibility that these shows won’t be simply “The Smashing Pumpkins” playing these songs live raises questions about the creative and professional dynamics within the band itself.
Billy Corgan And The Machines Of God will be hitting the road this June, playing a series of shows across the U.S. and Canada. Here are the confirmed dates for the tour:
Billy Corgan And The Machines Of God Tour Dates (2025):
- 6/7 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
- 6/9 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
- 6/11 – Muskoka, ON – Kee to Bala
- 6/12 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
- 6/13 – Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theatre
- 6/15 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
- 6/16 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
- 6/17 – Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall
- 6/19 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
- 6/20 – Joliet, IL – Taste of Joliet
- 6/21 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
- 6/23 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre
- 6/25 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland
- 6/26 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
- 6/27 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
- 6/29 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
The show lineup will likely feature the music that defined the band’s most commercially successful period. The question now is: Will this be a side project that runs alongside The Pumpkins’ ongoing tours? Or is Corgan’s decision a sign of creative differences, a personal desire to approach his music differently, or simply a new chapter in his journey?
It certainly creates a lot of buzz around these upcoming shows, and it’ll be interesting to see how the fans react. Given that many of these songs are some of the most iconic tracks in alternative rock, it’s no surprise that Billy Corgan’s solo project is stirring up quite a bit of intrigue.