First live performance

After the breakup of his gothic rock and metal band the Marked, singer and guitarist Billy Corgan left St. Petersburg, Florida and returned to his native city of Chicago, where he took a job in a record store and had the idea to start a band called the Smashing Pumpkins. While working at the store he met guitarist James Iha . Adorning themselves with paisley and other psychedelic trappings, the two began writing songs (with the aid of a drum machine ) which were heavily influenced by the Cure and New Order . The duo performed live for the first time on July 9, 1988, at the Polish bar Chicago 21. This performance included only Corgan on bass and Iha on guitar with a drum machine. Shortly thereafter, Corgan met D’arcy Wretzky after a show by the Dan Reed Network where they argued the merits of the band. After finding out that Wretzky played bass guitar, Corgan got her to join the band and the trio played a show at the Avalon Nightclub. After the show, Cabaret Metro owner Joe Shanahan agreed to book the band on the condition that they replace the drum machine with a live drummer.