Jokes have their place, and it’s usually alongside Billy Corgan. However, to speak of his silly tweets, manifestos, or anything since Zwan would be in poor taste here. Wednesday night, in the middle of a Smashing Pumpkins show at the Ritz Ybor in Tampa, Billy Corgan collapsed.
This wasn’t like Kurt Cobain’s little act in Reading over “The Rose” — Corgan stumbled and legitimately fell during “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.” According to his Twitter (which, needless to say, wasn’t funny this time), “That wasn’t a stage move or clumsiness, that was me blacking out and wiping out.” There is no explicable reason for the blackout yet, but Billy claims to have a bruise to show for it.
With no ostensible serious reason for this falter, The Smashing Pumpkins are going on with the tour as planned. In fact, they play a benefit concert July 27 in Chicago for Matthew Leone, bassist of Madina Lake. Leone was severely and tragically injured (now lacking a third of his skull due to of brain swelling) after coming to the defense of a woman in a domestic fight.
Good health to Billy Corgan, and sincere hope and wishes for Matthew Leone’s recovery.
• The Smashing Pumpkins: http://www.smashingpumpkins.com
• Matthew Leone: http://www.madinalake.com
