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Smashing Pumpkins Bring Out The Brady Bunch’s Barry Williams and Melissa Auf der Maur at Lollapalooza Pre-Show
Smashing Pumpkins brought actor Barry Williams, known for playing Greg Brady in The Brady Bunch, on stage during their Lollapalooza pre-show at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre. Williams joined the band for “It’s a Sunshine Day”, creating an intentionally incongruous moment against the group’s darker visual style; it also reflected his recent appearance on Billy Corgan’s podcast.
Former bassist Melissa Auf der Maur also appeared for the closing performance of “The Everlasting Gaze”, continuing a reunion that resumed in Montreal just over a year earlier after a long gap. The band additionally played “Thirty-Three” for the first time since 2018, “Dorian” for the first time since 2015, and debuted “War Dreams of Itself” live; they are due to play Lollapalooza on Friday for the first time in 32 years.
In short
- Barry Williams sang a Brady Bunch song with Smashing Pumpkins.
- Melissa Auf der Maur joined the closing song.
- The band returns to Lollapalooza after 32 years.
Explained simply
Smashing Pumpkins are an American rock band from Chicago who rose to prominence in the 1990s and became one of the most influential acts of that era. The band went inactive for extended periods but has reunited and toured in recent years with various line-up configurations, occasionally featuring former members from the original group.
Lollapalooza is one of the world's largest annual music festivals, held in Chicago since 1991, and is a major platform for established rock acts. For Smashing Pumpkins, a performance at the festival marks a significant return after a 32-year absence, reconnecting the band with their home city's flagship music event.
The reunited band attracts both longtime fans who followed the group during its influential 1990s period and newer audiences. Special performances featuring original members are particularly significant moments for devoted supporters who have tracked the band through its multiple reunions and line-up changes.
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