Melissa Auf der maur’s Surprise Return: A Nostalgic Reunion with the smashing Pumpkins at Lollapalooza
in a delightful twist for fans of the iconic ’90s alternative rock band, the Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Auf der Maur made a stunning comeback on stage in her hometown of Montréal last June. Armed with her beloved P-Bass, she joined Billy Corgan and the band to deliver a powerful rendition of The Everlasting Gaze.
This particular track, featured on the Smashing Pumpkins’ 2000 album Machina/The Machines of God, was notable as it marked Auf der Maur’s first appearance in the music video after the departure of original bassist D’arcy Wretzky.
Reflecting on her time with the band, Auf der Maur described her experience as akin to earning a “Master’s in Music,” calling it “phenomenal music training” in a recent interview with Bass Player.
A Journey Back to the Stage
Last year’s unexpected reunion with Corgan was not a fleeting moment. Auf der Maur’s memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry, released earlier this year, sparked discussions that led to her joining the Pumpkins on stage at Lollapalooza just this past weekend.
This performance was particularly special, marking the band’s first appearance at the festival in their hometown of Chicago since 1994.
“It was a natural, healing, and beautiful reconnection that unfolded around the release of my ’90s rock memoir,” auf der Maur shared in an exclusive interview with Bass Player.
She recounted how a planned memoir event in Los Angeles took an unexpected turn when her conversation partner fell ill. “Billy was set to drop by as a friend to support me and my book,” she explained. “At the last minute, I asked him to step in as my conversation partner, leading to one of the most meaningful discussions between my mentor and me, which thrilled the diehard music fans present.”
Before they took the stage, Corgan revealed that the Pumpkins had secured a headlining spot at Lollapalooza, inviting her to join them for a song. “He sweetly saeid, ‘If you want to join us for a song, please do,’” Auf der Maur recalled.
Preparing for the Big Show
As Auf der Maur’s daughter explored the Lollapalooza lineup,she encouraged her mother to seize the chance. “I casually mentioned that Billy had invited me to join for a song, and she said, ‘You better do it so we can go for the weekend,’” Auf der Maur laughed. “And we did, and it was incredible.”
Fortunately, Auf der Maur had a chance to warm up before the big event, as the Pumpkins organized a rehearsal show at Chicago’s historic riviera Theater on July 29.
“I arrived in Chicago on the day of the warm-up show for soundcheck. Billy showed me the new twist on the ending lick, and we ran through the song one-and-a-half times. That was it,” she explained.
“Part of my accepting the invitation was to test the theory that music is like riding a bike… the heartbeat and rhythmic feel are eternal. My fingers needed a little awakening, but otherwise, I was ready.”
moments of Magic on Stage
The following day, Auf der Maur felt wholly at ease, likening the experience to “putting on my favorite leather boots-agreeable and familiar, yet filled with the powerful energy of past lives expressed through music.”
“Performing on that stage, connecting with the band and the audience, was a way to ignite that magic, and it felt phenomenal. The riviera was a glorious, beautiful theater, while Lollapalooza felt monumental-not just in scale, but in the return to the stages the Pumpkins graced in 1994 and Hole in 1995.”
Adding to the atmosphere, Auf der Maur noted, “As Billy introduced me, my favorite Charlie XCX song, SS 26, floated through the air from the other main stage a mile away, which was quite amusing.”
Choosing The Everlasting Gaze for the performance was an obvious choice for Auf der Maur. “it’s one of my all-time favorite Pumpkins songs, and while it may be somewhat overlooked, judging by the crowd’s reaction, it’s clearly appreciated as one of their great riffs.”
I was honored and floored when Olivia told my daughter, ‘Without your mother, this would not be possible…’
Staying true to her ’90s roots, Auf der Maur opted for her ”trusted black Precision bass with the mirror pickguard that I used during the Machina tour, but for convenience, I plugged into their bassist Jack [Bates]’ rig. Ask him what it was!”
“I would’ve preferred my overdriven tube Ampeg stacks,” she admitted. “I’m pretty aggressive with my playing style, so I need a saturated, smooth sound. I can’t lighten my hits; the moment I pick up that bass, I hit hard. I guess that’s just my style.”
Bridging Generations in Rock
The Pumpkins also used their Lollapalooza set to connect with a younger generation of rock artists, inviting Yungblud and Olivia Rodrigo as special guests.
“I didn’t get a chance to meet the charismatic Yungblud,but I caught his set and loved his tribute to Ozzy,” Auf der Maur remarked. “He’s filling a void in emotional, heavy rock males-I was truly moved.”
“Olivia, conversely, was a delightful surprise! I adore her new album, and I’ve been following her thanks to my music-obsessed teenage daughter.”
reflecting on Rodrigo’s rise to fame and her respect for the female rock legends who paved the way, Auf der Maur shared, “My daughter’s first major concert was the Guts tour at Madison Square Garden almost two years ago. I managed to score backstage passes. I was honored and amazed when Olivia told her, ‘Without your mother, this would not be possible…’ That was probably the first time I heard such cross-generational affirmation spoken aloud to me.It made me proud, but most importantly, grateful that ‘we’ have arrived.”
“I joined Hole in 1994 to commit to putting women on the male-dominated landscape of rock music. And look where we are now.”
