Zwan, a new band with some familiar members, makes their concert debut in California this month. According to the official Web site (www.zwanmusic.com) the group comprises singer Billy, drummer Jimmy, guitarist Matt and a bass player called Skullfisher.
The site provides no further information on the project except for a straightforward mention of the four club dates. But there's more to Zwan than some first-name-only musicians playing 500-800 capacity venues like the Glass House in Pomona.
This is Billy Corgan's new band. The Jimmy on drums is former Smashing Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin. Matt the guitarist is reportedly Matt Walker, who left Filter to tour and record with the Pumpkins after Chamberlain was dismissed for drug use.
Some fans on the still very active Smashing Pumpkins message boards think Skullfisher could be one of the band's ex-bassists - D'Arcy Wretzky or Melissa Auf Der Maur.
At the moment, that's all you're likely to find out about Zwan. Corgan - still apparently quite the control freak - has kept a tight lid on his new endeavor. The venues and promoters involved in the initial dates certainly aren't talking; they're not even publicizing the shows.
The band's sound is allegedly prog/goth rock but the world will have to wait for the first show November 16 to find out what that means.
It's no surprise that Zwan isn't affiliated with any record label. Corgan's great displeasure with Smashing Pumpkins' label - Virgin Records - was well documented as the band's career drew to a close late last year.
When Virgin refused to release a 25-track grand finale because it came too soon after the Pumpkins' Machina: The Machines Of God album, the band posted the recordings on the Internet under the title Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music for fans to download for free.
The band took their final bow December 2, 2000, ending where their live career began in 1988 - Chicago's Metro club.
Corgan spent time on the road this summer playing with New Order but Zwan marks the first original work to emerge from the ashes of the Pumpkins.
Corgan retrouve le batteur des Pumpkins dans un nouveau groupe - 01/11/2001 - Reuters
LOS ANGELES(Reuters) - Less than a year after the Smashing Pumpkins broke up, the Chicago rock group's frontman, Billy Corgan, has reemerged with a new band.
Zwan is the name of his new combo, which also features former Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, said Corgan's publicist, Annie Ohayon. Also in the lineup are Matthew Sweeney, former singer/guitarist with New York indie rock band Chavez, and a bass player identified as ``Skullfisher.''
Ohayon said she did not know the identity of Skullfisher and that details about the project were still vague.
However she confirmed that Zwan will play three small club dates in the Los Angeles area and one in San Diego later this month, as listed on Pollstar.com (http://www.pollstar.com).
The Smashing Pumpkins played their final show at Chicago's Metro theater last Dec. 2, an emotional four-hour event that saw Corgan leave the stage in tears. Since then, he has adopted a low profile, apart from a brief stint as a tour guitarist for British rock band New Order.
The Pumpkins' Virgin Records label is preparing to release a greatest-hits package, ``Rotten Apples,'' on Nov. 20. The album will also be available in a two-CD configuration containing a disc of B-sides called ``Judas O.''
Reuters/Variety
Billy Corgan des Smashing Pumpkins refait surface avec Zwan - 02/11/2001 - Launch.com
Former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has resurfaced with a new band named Zwan, which also features ex-Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, according to Reuters. The lineup is completed by guitarist Matthew Sweeney, late of the New York indie outfit, Chavez, and a bassist named Skullfisher.
The group will make its debut later this month via four club shows in Southern California over a six-day period, beginning November 16 at the Glass House in the inland community of Pomona, according to Zwan's sparse website (zwanmusic.com). Others shows on the itinerary include Santa Ana's Galaxy Theatre on November 18, San Diego's Cane's on November 20, and West Hollywood's famed Roxy on November 21.
Corgan played his final show with his former band last December 2 at the Metro in Chicago. He recently appeared onstage as an auxiliary guitarist with New Order during dates on Moby's Area:One festival.
-- Neal Weiss, Los Angeles
Corgan's Zwan Song - 02/11/2001 - Entertainement - Rolling Stone
Avec Judas O, une collection de hits et de b-sides venant de la dernière moitié de la carrière des Smashing Pumpkins, attendu le 20 novembre -- à peu près un an après le dernier concert du groupe -- le chanteur Billy Corgan tourne la page vers son nouveau projet, Zwan.
Le groupe comprend le batteur des Pumpkins, Jimmy Chamberlin, qui reprend son ancien poste, Matthew Sweeney, chanteur-guitariste du groupe indie de New York, Chavez, à la guitare, et "Skullfisher", dont la vraie identité reste inconnue, à la basse. Zwan a prévu quatre concerts, tous en Californie, le premier au Glass House de Pomona le 16 novembre. Le 18 novembre, ils jouent au Galaxy Theater de Santa Ana, le 20 ils jouent aux Canes de San Diego, et le 21 au Roxy de Los Angeles.
Pour les fans qui attendent impatiemment la sortie de Judas O, quatre des neuf B-sides sont disponibles en téléchargement sur www.smashingpumpkins.com.
Christina Saraceno
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