Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is excited to be bringing the current Pumpkins touring lineup to Australia for Soundwave 2015 in February and March.
With the iconic rock group being named in Soundwave’s third and final lineup announcement today, Corgan has explained why the band’s current lineup of guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk and The Killers bassist Mark Stoermer is as strong as ever.
Speaking with triple j, Corgan confirmed the Pumpkins’ current touring lineup will be making its way to Australia next year, even though it was originally planned as a lineup for use in a short promotional tour.
“Which is awesome,” Corgan said. “We originally put together the lineup just to play a little promo tour, but that’s going to go a little longer.”
Corgan appears to have grown increasingly comfortable with the band’s current touring lineup, and he doesn’t seem reluctant to use his knowledge of the group to full advantage at Soundwave 2015.
“Now that we’ve played some shows… I have an even better sense of where the band’s strengths lie and what material that we’re not playing now that we would play when we come to Australia,” Corgan said. “So I feel really good about it.”
Corgan also praised Soundwave Festival during his interview, saying, “The thing about Soundwave that sticks out amongst a lot of other festivals is that when you look at the bill you say, ‘That’s an exciting show,’ and I think it’s very fan-focused. This is the kind of bill if I was looking as a fan I’d say, ‘I wanna see what’s going on at this show’.”
Smashing Pumpkins were last in the country as part of Splendour In The Grass 2012, and released their ninth studio album, Monuments To An Elegy, last week.
Soundwave’s third artist lineup saw a number of huge bands added to the festival, including Falling In Reverse, Millencolin, Steel Panther, King Parrot and more, bringing the total band tally to over 70.
Soundwave 2015 and its new two-day format will make its way through Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney next year, with festival timetables set to be released before Christmas.
Listen: Smashing Pumpkins – Drum + Fife
