Smashing Pumpkins Announce 'Rats in a Cage' Tour

Smashing Pumpkins Announce ‘Rats in a Cage’ Tour

After staging a surprise show at the intimate Hollywood Legion Theater in Los Angeles where they staged a funeral for Billy Corgan’s alter ego Zero, Smashing Pumpkins have announced an extensive North American arena tour. The band will belatedly celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1995 double LP Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, while also performing a second set featuring songs from their vast back catalog.

“Staging a Mellon Collie-themed show is something we’ve discussed for over a decade, and finally the stars have aligned and exactly on the terms I’d set: which was to build a special night around its most enduring aspirations and ideas,” Billy Corgan said in a statement. “With set 1 of the Rats In A Cage tour exclusively featuring Mellon Collie songs in a highly theatrical setting, and set 2 drawing from the rest of our canon so that there’s a decent amount of variance as to what songs we’ll play from night to night: from our first in Gish to our last in Aghori Mhori Mei.”

Tour Details and International Plans

The Rats in a Cage Tour kicks off Sept. 30 in Columbus, Ohio, and concludes Nov. 12 in Los Angeles. Ticket pre-sales begin May 19, with the general on-sale following on May 21.

Prior to the North American trek, Corgan will head to Europe for a series of ‘A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness’ theater shows, where he will perform the double LP accompanied by a 60-piece orchestra. This classical re-imagining was first unveiled last November at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago.

“The success of translating Mellon Collie into operatic and classical form has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my life,” Corgan noted. “Where on each of the 7 sold-out nights in Chicago we’d finish within the raucous wave of a standing ovation. So to now take it on the road, and to Europe, too, says this magical dream doesn’t have to end.”

Reflecting on the Band’s Evolution

While the band members were not initially in agreement regarding the scope of these anniversary celebrations, they have clearly found common ground for this upcoming tour. Corgan previously shared his perspective on the band’s collaborative process, noting that they have an agreement to avoid forcing decisions when there is a lack of alignment, which has helped maintain their creative partnership over the last decade.

The Rats in a Cage Tour Dates:

  • Sept. 30 — Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
  • Oct. 2 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
  • Oct. 3 — Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
  • Oct. 4 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
  • Oct. 6 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
  • Oct. 7 — Hamilton, ON @ TD Coliseum
  • Oct. 9 — Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
  • Oct. 11 — Madison, WI @ Kohl Center
  • Oct. 13 — St. Paul, MN @ Grand Casino Arena
  • Oct. 14 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
  • Oct. 16 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
  • Oct. 17 — Jacksonville, FL @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
  • Oct. 18 — Tampa, FL @ Benchmark International Arena
  • Oct. 20 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • Oct. 22 — Nashville, TN @ The Truth
  • Oct. 24 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
  • Oct. 25 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
  • Oct. 27 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
  • Oct. 29 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
  • Oct. 30 — Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
  • Nov. 1 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
  • Nov. 3 — Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
  • Nov. 5 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
  • Nov. 6 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
  • Nov. 8 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
  • Nov. 11 — Phoenix, AZ @ Mortgage Matchup Center
  • Nov. 12 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

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