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Smashing Pumpkins: Fuck Off... We're From CHICAGO!

Nick Jones, Spiral Scratch, 9 January 1992

"ISN'T THIS where The Beatles grew up?" inquires Billy Corgan from the stage of the Underworld club in London's Camden Town. His 4-piece Chicago band Smashing Pumpkins are half way through their UK debut. The place is heaving. Billy hasn't lost his sense of humour anyway. It's buzzing so hard in here that the narcissistic crowd drown out the Pumpkins' quiet pastoral passages. But cast ye not your pearls before swine, matey, these Pumpkins will smash you to pulp before the end of the number! With a nod of the head they crash simultaneously into a maelstrom of a climax. Upfront the head-bangers go ape! The soundman lights another stick of incense to mask the beer and sweat. Confusingly his t-shlrt back reads: "Fuck Off...We're from TEXAS"!

Total word count of piece: 2159

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