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JUNE 17 1996
Unknown Source

PUMPKIN PROBLEMS: Cincinnati officials say they won't let Smashing Pumpkins perform in their city because of safety issues. The band often draws fans who mosh - dancing during which participants slam their bodies against each other. "We investigated the band and received information that there was a potential for injury there," said Joseph Charlton, acting city safety director. The group did not have a reputation for concert trouble until last month, when a 17-year-old died of injuries received in a front-row crush at a concert in Dublin, Ireland.

UNKNOWN SOURCE AND DATE

NO INFINITE SADNESS IN CINCINNATI
Cincinnati officials say that they won't let Smashing Pumpkins perform in their city because they're afraid of smashing heads. "We investigated the band and received information that there was a potential for injury there," said Joseph Charlton, acting city safety director. The band often draws fans who mosh -- frenzied dancing during which participants slam their bodies against each other. The group, whose albums include Gish and Siamese Dream, did not have a reputation for concert trouble until last month, when a 17-year-old girl died of injuries received in a front-row crush at a concert in Dublin, Ireland.

UNKNOWN SOURCE AND DATE

PUMPKINS CONCERT SMASHED. CITY STANDS FIRM: NO MOSH PIT HERE
The city is turning away the popular band Smashing Pumpkins because it fears that its cult following of moshers could pose safety concerns. The Chicago band ASKED FOR A MOSH PIT AT RIVERFRONT COLISEUM concert so its fans could have an area to leap around, but the city said no.

A mosh pit--usually an area without chairs where fans slam into one another and lift others to the stage--would be considered festival or open seating- something the city doesn't allow, Acting Cincinnati Safety Director Joe Charlton said. Cincinnati has banned festival seating since 1979, when 11 fans died in a rush for the doors before THE WHO concert at the coliseum. But coliseum concert planers say they are stringent about safety and that this is an overblown reaction to last month's mini-riot at Pepsi's Jammin' on Main. Police armed with Mace and riot gear broke up th ruckus May 11 and arrested rowdy moshers in front of the band Seven Mary Three. "We felt a little bit penalized for something at another event," said Bill Barrett, a Coliseum spokesman. "I was surprised because i thought we were making some progress. Times have changed. Its a known fact that moshing does go on" But not if the city can help it.

While fans can mosh to their hearts at smaller venues such as Bogarts in Coryville, its against the law anywhere in the city for a place that holds more than 3,000 people, said Sgt. Wayne Pfirrman, a city safety department liaison officer who works with the Event Planning Unit. The event planners--city, police, and fire officials--met with the Smashing Pumpkins promoters the week after the Jammin' event and decided to reject the proposal even before a public assembly permit was filed. Gayle Fine, the band's publicist did not discuss details of the negotiations or the band's concert in Ireland last month when a teen was killed in the crush of the mosh pit. She said only that the band would love to play Cincinnati.

The Coliseum is losing acts because of too many rules and regulations, Mr. Barrett said:"once the word gets out, agents won't even make calls regarding Cincinnati. Shannon Merry, 21, of Oxford a Smashing Pumpkins fan who moshed at Jammin' on Main, said this makes Cincinnati seem stodgy. "They don't have any fun anymore" she said," To soup security is one thing. To cancel everything--thats just uncool." Uncool or not, it's safe said Bobby Sterne, who proposed this week that portable video cameras be mounted on poles for such events such as Jammin' on Main. "does this really add much to the enjoyment of a concert for people to go romping around like that?" she asked.

Paul Wertheimer, founder of Crowd Management Strategies of Chicago, tried to find out for himself. The 47-year old has been moshing for three years. He understands the dangers and the reasons the city would have for avoiding it. "in a city with the worst U.S. rock 'n' roll disaster in history, these people have to err on the side of safety." said Mr. Wertheimer who was a public information officer for Cincinnati at the time of THE WHO concert. While this is the first time Cincinnati has banned bands from having mosh pits, its happening in other cities.

Boston officials rejected a concert by Gravity Kills last week, saying they wanted to avoid a riot. And Cincinnati officials say there's evidence that moshing has been dangerous here even before last month's scuffle. A March 6, 1995 report from a police commander to the chief details chaos at the Feb. 23, 1995, Pantera heavy metal concert, where fans tore apart wire-linked chairs to form a mosh pit. "The music acted as a euphoric drug and the more Pantera played the wilder the crowd became." former District 1 Capt. Walter McAlpin wrote. Police made 32 arrests, and at least 8 people were treated for drug overdosing, alcohol poisoning, a dislocated should and knee he wrote. Thats just the kind of thing the city wants to avoid. "These young people have mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers." Mr Charlton said. "And if something tragically would happen to them, what would i say to them?" I would rather take the ounce of prevention. Once a life is gone, its gone.

MAY 26 1996
Pumpkins' D'Arcy Sings!

We have learned by reading today's L. A. Times that our favorite female member of the Smashing Pumpkins, D'Arcy, has just made her debut as a lead vocalist. One problem, D'Arcy already made her debut as a lead vocalist many years ago on Gish, where she does the honors on "Daydream." But anyway, D'Arcy does sing on the upcoming album by Catherine, a band that includes Ms. Pumpkins' husband, Kerry Brown. D'Arcy sings a duet with Catherine signer Mark Rew on "Four Leaf Clover," the first single off the Catherine album, which will out released in August.

MAY 25 1996
Pumpkins Rock New Zealand

Addicted To Noise New Zealand correspondent Marty Duda reports: Well, they finally made it. The Smashing Pumpkins performed in Auckland at the Supertop on Thurs. (May 23). Originally scheduled for April, the show was postponed due to the death of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin's father. The Pumpkins have met with more bad luck since then. A fan was crushed to death at a show in Dublin a couple of weeks back, causing the band to consider canceling the remaining shows altogether. Fortunately for us on this side of the globe they did not.

After opening things up with "Where Boys Fear To Tread" from their smashing album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Billy Corgan (in all his bald-headed glory) asked to have the house lights up. He admonished the crowd to, "Be very careful and pick anybody up if you see them fall down. It can be very dangerous, we don't want anyone to get hurt, we want everyone to have a good time." The band then kicked into "Zero" and a crowd pleasing "Today," before plowing through six straight tunes from Mellon Collie." The Pumpkins have really jelled; touring has turned them into a top-notch live act. Psychedelic/surreal video images projected on a large screen behind them enhanced the show for those of us further back, while the folks up front just needed the power of the band to get off.

Corgan stopped the show several times to thank us for waiting for them to finally return to New Zealand and continued to encourage everyone to be careful. Unfortunately, there was some violence. Police reported that one person was stabbed and had to be taken to the hospital after a group of Polynesian youths clashed with a group of Europeans. The injury proved to be non-life-threatening.

After playing for just over an hour, the band closed out their regular set with the one-two punch of "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" and "Cherub Rock." A few minutes later they were back with "1979" and Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man." To confound the audience, Corgan insisted on spelling out the name of lame Aussie-rocker Jimmy Barnes throughout "I'm A Man."

After a more traditional "X.Y.U.," the band left the stage, but quickly returned again with "Mayonnaise" and "Bodies." James Iha provided a highlight with his demonstration of how to safely pogo dance.They said their goodnights and left the stage, but returned again (!!) for a final encore: an extended version of "Silverfuck" from Siamese Dream. The 30 minute workout enabled the band to really jam, (although the cynic in me noticed that the accompanying video seemed to sync up with the live music suspiciously well).

Things finally wound down with each of the band members taking a vocal turn at "Farewell and Goodnight." It was undoubtedly a fine show, although I do have a small bone to pick with the band regarding the numerous encores. What is the point of playing for an hour, leaving the stage, only to come back again and again, eventually playing for close to two hours? It got to the point where the crowd didn't even try to get the band back; they knew they would return in a few minutes. After the show ended, I heard a fan comment that things "got a bit boring toward the end." In this respect the Smashing Pumpkin's live show faithfully recreates the mood of their latest release...Great stuff, but maybe a bit too much of it.

TUESDAY, April 2, 1996
RIAA CERTIFIES GOLD & PLATINUM - by Bob Scheu

Smashing Pumpkins Double CD Hits 6 Million

Smashing Pumpkins has tied with Michael Jackson for the bestselling double-CD release in industry history. The Virgin Records artists', Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,' has been certified at 6 million units, according to the March certifications released Monday by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Meanwhile Hootie & the Blowfish have set another milestone by topping the 13 million unit mark on last year's "Cracked Rear View''.

Double-platinum certifications went to Columbia Records' Presidents of the United States for the band's self-titled debut, and ``What's the Story Morning Glory'' from Oasis on Epic.

Longform vid Voodoo Lounge earned a gold cert for the Rolling Stones and Polygram Music Video for its 50,000 unit tally.

March 19 1996
Smashing Pumpkins Postpone Tour

ATN Australian correspondent Alex Jackson and New Zealand correspondent Marty Duda-Auckland report: The Smashing Pumpkins have had to postpone their New Zealand shows, as well as three shows scheduled in Sydney Australia due to the death of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin's father. The New Zealand shows, scheduled to happen next week, have been rescheduled for the end of May, starting with Auckland on the 23rd, Wellington the 24th and Christchurch the 26th & 27th. The Sydney gigs are also being made up.

FEBRUARY 13 1996
Pumpkins Call For Help

A funny thing happened to Soundgarden's Chris Cornell on the way to the mixing board the other night. He got word that none other than the Smashing Pumpkins wanted to borrow some of Soundgarden's equipment. Seems that the Smashing Pumpkins were due to play Seattle this past weekend (Feb. 8 and 9), and although James Iha, D'Arcy, Billy Corgan, and Jim Chamberlin arrived intact, their equipment did not, due to the extreme flooding in the Pacific Northwest. The band put out an all points bulletin to their Seattle brethren, and some of the local luminaries chipped in, donating amps and instruments, so the Pumpkins could put on one of their stellar performance at the Moore Theatre.

FEB 7 1996
Courtney Love To Record With Smashing Pumpkins?

We hear that Courtney Love and Big Pumpkin Billy Corgan have discussed recording a song together (when their schedules allow, of course). That makes sense, given that Love took a break from wrapping up her role as Althea Flynt (filming in Memphis), jetted to L. A. this past weekend and showed up at the Hollywood Palace to join the Pumpkins on-stage for the last song. According to witnesses, the Loved One grabbed a guitar and executed a brief solo before exiting stage left--only to return astride a roadie (that is in their job description) who handed her off to Billy Corgan, her very special friend. A Geffen Records spokesman told us: "We haven't heard anything definite about the recording, but to be safe, let's just say maybe it'll happen. But you know Courtney." Sure do. We also learned that Geffen has had a rather lengthy discussion with Butch Vig, who told them not to be surprised if he does produce the next Hole album--something he alluded to during an exclusive interview with ATN last week.