Watch Smashing Pumpkins Cover Rolling Stones With James Iha
On Saturday, three-quarters of the classic Smashing Pumpkins lineup performed at Los Angeles’ Ace Hotel, with former guitarist James Iha joining Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin for a medley of classic Nineties tracks. But the good-natured reunion wasn’t a one-off, as Iha again rejoined the Pumpkins for Sunday’s Ace Hotel show, including a slow-burning encore rendition of Rolling Stones ballad “Angie.”
Fan-shot footage finds Corgan crooning the 1973 anthem over a strummed acoustic. Iha adds faint electric guitar, while guitarist Jeff Schroeder rips out a melodic solo and Chamberlin anchors the track with jazzy drum accents.
According to Setlist.fm, Iha also joined the band for a seven-track, Siamese Dream-dominated mini-set midway through the show, featuring “Mayonaise,” “Soma,” “Rocket,” “Spaceboy,” “Today,” “Disarm,” and Pisces Iscariot‘s “Whir.” Fan footage of “Today” finds Iha and Schroeder trading off on the iconic lead guitar line.
Iha’s Saturday appearance took place on the guitarist’s 48th birthday, with Corgan and the crowd leading a “Happy Birthday” sing-along. The positive vibes continued after the show, with Chamberlin tweeting, “Pretty cool to play with my old band mate [James Iha] Looking forward to doing it again”
Pretty cool to play with my old band mate @James_Iha Looking forward to doing it again sometime. #smashingpumpkins pic.twitter.com/Jr7HSfS17k
— Jimmy Chamberlin (@jccomplex) March 27, 2016
Though the guitarist parted ways with Smashing Pumpkins following their initial 2000 breakup, his relationship with former bandmates appeared to improve when they reunited earlier this month, in writing, to threaten to sue those responsible for leaking early Pumpkins demos in recent months.