56. Today – The Smashing Pumpkins

Another band I will forever associate with the Big Day Out because I saw them on the main stage at the Showground, back in the days when they had 2 stages side by side so they could alternate bands faster. I really liked Gish, I loved Siamese Dream, and I couldn’t wait to see them: when little Billy walked on in his pink Superman t shirt he had the crowd in the palm of his hand before he played a note.

Unfortunately the running order was Pumpkins >> Bjork >> Soundgarden: I love all 3, but that was so unfair to Bjork, as a bunch of drunk tossers tolerated the Pumpkins (even though, as they said repeatedly, they’re a bit of a girl’s band. And I don’t think they meant it as a positive), shouted “fuck off Bjork!” all through her set before moshing to Soundgarden, even though Superunknown wasn’t due for release until the week after, so no one had ever heard any of the songs. But little Billy didn’t care: little Billy rocked.

And I love that they mess with the song about at the start of the video – that little bit of riff does sound like an ice cream truck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmUZ6nCFNoU