Billy Corgan to reform Smashing Pumpkins

Just one album into his solo career, Billy Corgan is planning to reunite the Smashing Pumpkins. In full-page ads he placed in newspapers and on the web to hype his solo debut, TheFutureEmbrace, Corgan surprised fans by writing that a Pumpkins reunion has been in the making for awhile: "I found that my heart is in the Smashing Pumpkins...For a year now I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep. But now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive The Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams."

Neither Corgan nor his representatives offered more information as to when the Pumpkins will start working together again, or who will be in the band when they do. It's expected that drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who guests on TheFutureEmbrace, and guitarist James Iha, who toured with A Perfect Circle, will return to the fold. The bass position is unknown, however, since original member D'arcy Wretzky left in 1999 and was replaced briefly by former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Mar.

The Pumpkins formed in Chicago in 1989, and broke up in 2000 after selling more than 25 million albums and garnering two Grammy Award awards. Corgan and Chamberlin went on to form another band, Zwan, which broke up after just one album in 2003. Chamberlin was not available for comment about the Pumpkins reunion on Tuesday.

Corgan kicks off a solo tour on Wednesday, June 22 at Earthlink Live in Atlanta, Georgia.