As reported on Stereogum, the Smashing Pumpkins have announced two live dates for 2007, both at festivals in Germany (shades of Hasslehoff?). Much speculation exists as to what the lineup will be, whether this is going to be a Guns’n’Roses with Buckethead type of thing or an all original members lovefest. Two camps seem to be emerging in these discussion: A) the “Billy Corgan writes everything/he IS Smashing Pumpkins” camp, and B) the “he’s only made crap records without the original lineup” camp. Somehow, I feel like they’re both right, but I’ll probably listen to whatever new material comes out of Billy and Jimmy’s hippie-dippie recording sessions (from the band’s myspace blog: “this age calls for resolve and certitude, and the fire within to burn ever bright…if that fire should be connected to absolutely deafening guitars, thundering drums, and the melodies of snakes, then so be it! We love you! If you are meant to be with us, find us!!”). Um, yeah…

So why Germany and not, say Coachella or something?