Hello from Chicago. A few thoughts to share, if you'll indulge. First, thanks to everyone who came out on this last tour. For me, that was the most exciting tour I've been on since before Jimmy left in 1996. I thought the band did a fantastic job, and I really appreciate the enthusiasm we saw towards what we were getting at. It seems like we have finally found what we have been looking for since we came back.

Secondly, I want to say openly that I am optimistic about a return to our site hosting a message board. What I would need to see is a constructive framework that would allow a whole host of thought and opinion in a positive way that brings fans together, and not further divide them. As you can see from the Media Militia writers, thoughtful opinion and criticism are welcome here.

Lastly, I would like to make a small declaration. For 20 years I have been asked 'what kind of music do you make?', and to be honest. I've never had a good answer. When I began playing seriously in 1985, there was no such thing as 'alternative music'. It was known then as 'new wave'. Alternative music seems to be the label that won, so I suppose that's what we get lumped in as. Once we were New Wave, then Post-Modern, then Grunge, and now just plain Alternative. And honestly, I've never liked any of those labels because it doesn't really cover what we do. In addition. Alternative Music has been hijacked by poseurs. No mystery there as to why.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I've found…

Just added today, a new free concert. :)

Event is 18+ Tickets will not be on sale for this performance. You must sign up to get FREE tickets! For information on how to get tickets please visit www.samsungsummerkrush.com or tune in to 101.1 WJRR

Upon the interest generated for the song The Beginning is the End is the Beginning from its use in the Watchmen trailer released not too long ago, it appears Billy had a renewed faith in it and brought it out for the August tour they are currently playing. Found a decent copy of it from the first show, so here you go!

For the setlist and 4 videos of last night's performance go here.

Here is one of the four videos, G.L.O.W.

It appears that G.L.O.W., the upcoming single from The Smashing Pumpkins, will indeed be a stand-a-lone single and not tied to any particular album release.

The upcoming album discussed earlier is going to be something a bit different than the band has released in the past. The next album will be worked on over along period of time, but that doesn't mean new music won't be coming out from the band during this period. Other "singles" not related to the album, such as G.L.O.W., may find their way to the public in one way or another.

TMZ.com reports that two former members of the SMASHING PUMPKINS are suing Virgin Records America, claiming the label has screwed them out of ringtone fees and other stuff.

James Yoshinobu Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky-Brow claim in 2005, five years after the band broke up, Virgin negotiated a deal solely with frontman Billy Corgan for electronic transmissions (ringtones, download computer files, etc), without ever getting the consent of Iha or Wretzky-Brown.

In the suit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages.

SMASHING PUMPKINS in March filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Virgin Records, accusing the company of illegally using the band's name and music in promotional arrangements that allegedly hurt the group's credibility with its fans. The incident that seems to have sparked the suit was the use of the PUMPKINS in a "Pepsi Stuff" promotional campaign launched by Virgin, Amazon, and Pepsi, which the group claims hurt its "artistic integrity."

This just in from the studio, The Smashing Pumpkins' new song, G.L.O.W., is now finished.

Co-producer Bjorn Thorsud says "G.L.O.W. has me glowing all over."

September can't come too soon, as that will be when this song will start hitting the airwaves.

Beginning is the End is the Beginning is featured in the new Watchmen Trailer.