News 99122X-1

The world of alternative rock breathed a sigh of relief on Monday night, as the Smashing Pumpkins took the stage of Chicago's Metro club and proved that they weren't crap. That's the message sent from those who witnessed Billy Corgan and Co. re-ascending their rawk throne with songs from their new album.

Joining them to play songs from their fifth album, MACHINA/the machines of God, was former Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur. The two gigs on December 20 and 21 were the first time she's played with the band since replacing D'Arcy Wretzky. Wretzky left the Pumpkins in September to pursue acting.

Dubbed "our only Canadian Socialist member," the flame-haired Auf Der Maur seemed cool as ever in a skintight dress with a plunging neckline, albeit slightly less associated with the Pumpkins' songs than she should be. She worked most of the night off a music stand in front of her.

The band also features drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who was invited back into the Pumpkins following the critical and sales disappointment of 1998's Adore. Chamberlin was fired in 1996 following his involvement in the heroin overdose of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin.

Pumpkinheads will have already heard the sheer rawk attack of "The Everlasting Gaze" from MACHINA on VH1.com. The Internet-only single is available for free download from the site. But after ripping through the track on Monday, the Pumpkins went on to entertain the 1,100-capacity crowd with a lot more.

Corgan threw his all into the new material, which in time-honored tradition was apathetically received by the fans. The guitarist/singer hit the floor for "Heavy Metal Machine"s finale, before raising everyone's fist with a rendition of Mellon Collie's "Tonight, Tonight," where Jimmy's drumming showed everyone what they've been missing over the past few years.

Summing up the evening of unfamiliar work and greatest hits, Corgan told the audience, "Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards. Sometimes you gotta dig up the bones to look at them and say they don't mean shit." That was the band's cue to play David Essex's 1974 No. 5 "Rock On."

Rock was not out of the question, but for their first encore, the Pumpkins decided to tackle "Disarm" and "1979" acoustically. Chamberlin played with Iha and Corgan on guitar while Auf Der Maur posed. The band returned to storm through Cherub Rock." Clearly the start of a beautiful partnership.

MACHINA/the machines of God will be released on February 29, 2000. If you want to hear "The Everlasting Gaze" single, click here and then stand well back from your computer.