Niki N. Phaser

               The Cure are known for doing things a bit differently than everyone else and this time they are breaking the -0/-5 anniversary cliché. They are choosing to celebrate the 21st birthday of their 1989 tour de force, Disintegration, by releasing a remastered anniversary edition. It will hit stores in the spring of 2010.

              Of course, the new edition will come with additional gifts, meaning the new Deluxe Disintegration will be a 3 cd affair, even though, truth be told, the bonus material is really just for avid collectors. It includes a cd of rarities from the 88-89 period (intrumental demos, home demos, rough mixes, etc.) and a second cd of a remixed live performance at the Wembley Arena from 1989. Also, 2010 promises more remastered goodies from The Cure, including a Mixed Up 2 album. There is also a hint of a DVD with their In Orange gig, which was released as a VHS by PolyGram in 1988 and begins with a dramatic unveiling of Robert Smith’s trimmed haircut at the time. Classic.

It seems that Smashing Pumpkins frontman, Billy Corgan has found a new drummer for his outfit in the person of Mike Byrne, a 19-year old student and they are currently working on new stuff. It doesn’t really matter who the guy is, but the question that’s on my mind is: will that band still be The Smashing Pumpkins? I mean, now there is only one original member left. The Cure have undergone some changes over the years, some many changes in fact, but, with some pauses, Simon Gallup was pretty much all the time by Robert Smith’s side.

source: www.washingtoncitypaper.com

The answer I choose to sponsor regarding the Corgan-Pumpkins dilemma is: I don’t really care, as long as the music is still good. With their Zeitgeist album, the controversy was pretty much based around the same issue: is it still Smashing Pumpkins without James Iha and Melissa Auf der Maur (who did nicely by herself, by the way)? I don’t know, but the album was part amazing (Bleeding the Orchid), part good (For God and Country) and after all, the music is all that matters. So, Billy, do your best and let us know when it’s done!

On the other hand, I must admit that this whole situation must be really nasty for a hardcore Pumpkins fan. It must be really frustrating to keep changing the posters on your wall… (just joking, sorry).