Smashing Pumpkins reveal Drum + Fife

Smashing Pumpkins have released an audio stream of Drum + Fife.

It follows the release of tracks Being Beige and One And All which have been lifted from their upcoming album Monuments To An Elegy. It launches on December 9 via Martha’s Music.

Mainman Billy Corgan teamed up with Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee on the album and he reveals the sticksman is responsible for turning the track around.

Corgan tells NME: “Drum + Fife was originally a folk song. We really had a problem getting it off its almost dour Irish balladeer aspect and I must give a lot of credit to Tommy Lee, because he’s the one who turned the corner.

“Without saying it, he was reacting in a way that told me he thought it was a bit boring. Tommy loves energy – Tommy wants to feel excitement. So he’s playing the song and he’s like, ‘ I know this is a good song but it’s just not working.’ He said to me, ‘Do you mind if I tinker around with it?’ He got on the computer and used his experience in dance music, turned the corner and found some loops and some beats.”

He continues: “It’s almost like mid-80s new wave and it reminded me a little bit of early U2 or Big Country. The open strut made the Irish ballad part of the song come alive and have more of a expansive quality. From there on it got a lot easier.”

Corgan has recruited Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk and The Killers’ bassist Mark Stoermer for a short run of European dates, starting this month in Berlin. Their only UK show will take place at London’s Koko on December 5.

Monuments To An Elegy tracklist

  1. Tiberius 2. Being Beige 3. Anaise 4. One And All 5. Run2Me 6. Drum + Fife 7. Monuments 8. Dorian 9. Anti-Hero
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.

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