Three decades after Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness reshaped the landscape of alternative rock, The Smashing Pumpkins are celebrating the album’s legacy with a massive 30th anniversary reissue and a series of high-profile collaborations that put a fresh twist on their most iconic work.
Set for release on November 21 via UMe, the reissue features three new editions, including a deluxe four-disc CD set and a limited six-LP vinyl box set. The centerpiece is over 80 minutes of unreleased live recordings from the band’s 1996 Infinite Sadness tour — a rare glimpse into the Pumpkins at the peak of their original lineup’s powers. The vinyl version also comes packed with a hardbound book of new liner notes by Billy Corgan, a custom tarot deck, frameable lithographs, and more, all tucked inside a velvet slipcase.
Corgan called the discovery of the tapes “bittersweet,” describing them as a window into a band on the brink of transformation. “Once we blew apart in 1996, we were never quite the same emotionally or spiritually,” he said. “Thankfully, I can say this as the band is now enjoying our greatest public success since that time.”
Originally released in October 1995, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was a landmark moment for the band. The sprawling double album spawned timeless singles like “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” “Zero,” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” earning seven Grammy nominations and eventually going Diamond. The new reissue captures the chaos and brilliance of the album’s original tour, with restored live versions of deep cuts like “Thru the Eyes of Ruby” and “Bodies,” alongside roaring renditions of the hits.
But the celebration doesn’t stop with the music.
In late November, Corgan will partner with the Lyric Opera of Chicago for a one-of-a-kind series titled A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness. Running for seven nights, the show will feature reimagined orchestral arrangements of the album’s most beloved songs. Corgan will be joined by conductor James Lowe and a cast of operatic vocalists, including soprano Sydney Mancasola and baritone Edward Parks. The performances also feature costume design from House of Gilles and promise an immersive experience fusing opera, art, and alternative rock.
Meanwhile, Corgan has also teamed with Chicago’s Vosges Haut-Chocolat for The Mellon Collie Sessions, a limited-edition chocolate box set inspired by the album. Available starting October 21, it includes six custom chocolate bars, a collectible poster, and flavor combinations named after classic tracks like “Zero,” “1979,” and “Tonight, Tonight.” The ingredients come from Madame Zuzu’s, the tea house Corgan co-founded in Highland Park.
The anniversary festivities cap off a prolific run for the Pumpkins, who in recent years have released Cyr, the three-part Atum rock opera, and 2024’s Aghori Mhori Mei, all while continuing to headline sold-out shows worldwide. The reissue of Mellon Collie comes hot on the heels of the long-awaited 25th anniversary re-release of Machina, which finally presented the 2000 album in the form the band originally intended.
Now, with one of the greatest albums of the 1990s back in the spotlight, The Smashing Pumpkins are giving fans old and new the chance to revisit a masterpiece — not just through remastered tracks and rarities, but through chocolate, opera, and a reminder of just how far the band has come.
