Smashing Pumpkins reunite after 18 years for 30th anniversary tour

Three of the four original members of Smashing Pumpkins are reuniting for their first tour together in 18 years to celebrate the alternative-rock band’s 30th anniversary, it was announced Thursday morning.

The three — singer and guitarist Billy Corgan, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and guitarist James Iha — will kick off their Shiny And Oh So Bright Tour on July 12 at Arizona’s Gila River Arena in Glendale.

The North American concert trek concludes Sept. 7 at the Ford Idaho Center in Boise. It includes four California dates, including a Sept. 1 show at San Diego State University’s Viejas Arena.

All cities and dates appear below, along with ticket information.

Smashing Pumpkins has been working on a new album with legendary producer Rick Rubin. For this tour, however, the revamped band will exclusively play songs from its first five albums: 1991’s “Gish,” 1993’s “Siamese Dream,” 1995’s “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” 1998’s “Adore” and 2000’s “Machina.”

“Some 30 years ago, as The Smashing Pumpkins, James Iha and I began a musical journey in the cramped rear bedroom of my father’s house,” Corgan said, in a statement released Thursday morning.

“And so it’s magic to me that we’re able to coalesce once more around the incredible Jimmy Chamberlin, to celebrate those songs we’ve made together.”

Missing from the reunion tour lineup is original Smashing Pumpkins bassist D’arcy Wretzky, who has alleged she was not invited to participate in the reunion. That contention is disputed by the other band members.

In a statement released this week, a representative for Corgan, Chamberlin and Iha said: “In reuniting The Smashing Pumpkins, the band’s dedication remains to its fans and its music. To that, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and William Corgan haven’t played a show with D’arcy Wretzky for over 18 years. But it’s not for a lack of trying.

“Despite reports, Ms. Wretzky has repeatedly been invited out to play with the group, participate in demo sessions, or at the very least, meet face-to-face, and in each and every instance she always deferred. We wish her all the best, and look forward to reconnecting with you all very soon.”

Not so, counters Wretzky, who recently told Alternative Nation that it was “a complete lie” she had been invited to play on the reunion tour.

Her role on bass will reportedly be filled for the tour by Jack Bates, the son of New Order’s Peter Hook. Guitarist Jeff Schroeder will complete the lineup.

“This show and staging will be unlike any we’ve ever done, and will feature a set unlike any we’ve ever played. For if this is a chance at a new beginning, we plan on ushering it in with a real bang,” Corgan said.

Corgan has led various lineups of Smashing Pumpkins since the original lineup disbanded.

However, in a 2010 Union-Tribune interview, he criticized bands that reunited, saying: “Pavement is out there playing their old hits. What do they think? Not everyone does a cash-grab (and reunites). They’re an easy target, because I have issues with them.

“But the response of my generation (to current events) is pitiful and overwhelming, so why the (expletive) do I want to run out there with a flag? To get criticized for giving a (expletive)? I don’t want to be a dead hero. I do what I can, here and there.”

Tickets for Smashing Pumpkins’ reunion tour will go on sale to the general public Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. local time and be available at smashingpumpkins.com, LiveNation.com, ticketmaster.com and via the Live Nation App.

Ticket prices for the San Diego show range from $53 to $129 each, plus service charges.

Smashing Pumpkins 2018 tour dates

July 12, 2018 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena

July 14, 2018 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena

July 16, 2018 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center

July 17, 2018 Houston, TX Toyota Center

July 18, 2018 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

July 20, 2018 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena

July 21, 2018 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center

July 22, 2018 Atlanta, GA Infinite Energy Arena

July 24, 2018 Miami, FL AmericanAirlines Arena

July 25, 2018 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena

July 27, 2018 Baltimore, MD Royal Farms Arena

July 28, 2018 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

July 29, 2018 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

July 31, 2018 Boston, MA TD Garden

August 01, 2018 New York City, NY Madison Square Garden

August 04, 2018 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena

August 05, 2018 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena

August 07, 2018 Montreal Centre Bell

August 08, 2018 Toronto Air Canada Centre

August 11, 2018 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center

August 13, 2018 Chicago, IL United Center

August 16, 2018 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

August 17, 2018 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse

August 19, 2018 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center

August 20, 2018 Omaha, NE CenturyLink Center

August 21, 2018 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford Premier Center

August 24, 2018 Seattle, WA KeyArena

August 25, 2018 Portland, OR Moda Center

August 27, 2018 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena

August 28, 2018 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center

August 30, 2018 Los Angeles, CA The Forum

September 01, 2018 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena

September 02, 2018 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena

September 04, 2018 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena

September 05, 2018 Denver, CO Pepsi Center

September 07, 2018 Boise, ID Ford Idaho Center

george.varga@sduniontribune.com

Twitter @georgevarga