natalie imbruglia sings "identify" for STIGMATA

natalie imbruglia has just completed billy corgan and mike garson's song "identify" for the mgm movie STIGMATA. the song will be released on the soundtrack along with 41 minutes of the dynamic duo's instrumental score. recorded by natalie in london, the track was executive produced by nigel goodrich, he of radiohead fame...p.s. we've heard it and it sounds great...shhh!

The following letter was received from Billy Corgan:

dearest listessans and spifc members,

a brief note of thanks to you for your generous spirit and dedication in the pursuit of your own charity efforts....always remember that the very notion of helping others with your own positivity and love IS the greatest thing you can do....everything else is icing on the cake...your energy amazes and inspires...all the best to you b.c.

p.s. ron was a noble ambassador...and I loved the picture book...the words and comments were very touching...thanks

On april 24 of this year, the smashing pumpkins were honored at the make a wish foundation of northern illinois annual charity wish ball with a fountain of hope award. the honor was in recognition for a charity concert in chicago, il. last summer that raised 500,000 dollars for the make a wish foundation, their largest single donation ever, and helped to raise local and national awareness of the foundations efforts to grant a special wish to terminally ill children. because the pumpkins were in los angeles playing, they were unable to accept the award in person so they asked their longtime friend joe shanahan, owner of the cabaret metro (where the pumpkins played their first concert) to accept for them. joe spoke for the band and read a statement by billy corgan:

"please let me express to you our gratitude for this honor….we take great pride in being citizens of the world, but as many know we are chicagoans in our heart of hearts…..choosing make a wish as the benefactor to our concert last summer was an easy choice because they embody the compassion that we wished all people could have towards each other…I know I am paraphrasing someone when I say that the mark of a great people is how they take care of their weakest…ironically the use of the word weak when it comes to the little angels that are the focus of make a wish are probably some of our strongest…nothing is more heartbreaking than the obstacles faced by these children, but that is exactly why they need our love and full support…so let me take this moment to thank you make a wish for the work that you all do, it is truly god’s work….we are so sorry that we cannot be there to accept this honor from you personally….but we are on tour wreaking havoc on our culture, hopefully some change for the better….so allow me to leave you with one final thought….love does not always have to be quiet and graceful, it can be boisterous and loud and even rude, to shout above the din to be heard sometimes…if only to bring a little peace….thank you"

additional fountain of hope awards were also presented to: sammy sosa of the chicago cubs, give kids the world, dr.ammar hayani, dr. karen hayani

this fall the smashing pumpkins are set to release an as yet untitled documentary shot during the entire course of their groundbreaking adore tour. filmed over roughly 5 months of rehearsing, recording, and touring around the world, this will be the pumpkins first home video release since vieuphoria in 1994. the video will be directed by jesse ignjatovic, a producer for mtv who took a leave of absence to travel with the band. covering may to september of 1998, the adore tour saw the pumpkins playing in european amusement parks, botanical gardens, ports of call, and even parking garages. also featured will be the unprecedented american charity tour, that covered 14 cities and raised over 2.7 million dollars.

Billy Corgan, David Bowie Contribute To Stigmata

Details on the music for the film Stigmata, one of the most anticipated soundtracks of 1999, are finally emerging; and if Billy Corgan has anything to say about it, soundtrack fanatics won't be disappointed.

Half of the soundtrack will feature Corgan's score of the film. The other half will include a new, as-yet-unknown track from David Bowie, an as-yet-unknown track from the Afro Celt Sound System featuring Sinead O'Connor on vocals, as well as a new song penned by Corgan but sung by an as-yet-undecided female vocalist.

Other tracks confirmed for the record include a remix of Bjork's "All Is Full of Love," Massive Attack's "Inertia Creeps," Remy Zero's "Grammereye," and Chumbawamba's "Mary Mary."

Stigmata, starring Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byrne, is scheduled for release by MGM Pictures in August. The soundtrack for the film is tentatively scheduled for an Aug. 27 release on Virgin Records.

GISH....we all remember it....10 songs (10 1/2 depending on who you ask) of pure psychadelic rock bliss....well the end of june will mark our first retrospective foray into the world of gish....the recording, the writing, even those cryptic lyrics, production and gear.although the details are still being worked out, it’s our intention to have special gish events throughout the end of june into july....so here is your chance to help shape the kinds of events that you would like to have....a live chat? a special interactive listening party? yes it’s all possible in the wonderful world of cyberspace...please e-mail your suggestions to richard jürghoff....and vote here to participate in the "song from gish you would most like to know what the lyrics really meant" contest....one random entrant will win an autographed copy of gish on vinyl...

CONTEST....coming soon for all you photoshop heads....in a couple of days we’re going to put up a best of the arising tour photobook....all the pictures will be (technical jargon) downloadable and we want you to manipulate the images as you see fit...winning entries will be posted on the website and winners will receive a special prize fitting of those who are most creative....

Smashing Pumpkins receive Fountain of Hope Award

The Smashing Pumpkins work for the Make A Wish Foundation has been rewarded. The band have now received the Fountain of Hope Award.

The band raised over $500,000 from their tour last year giving the Foundation their largest ever single donation.

The Make A Wish Foundation is a charity that grants a "wish" to terminally ill children.

Unfortunately, the band were in Los Angeles playing on the night of the ceremony but good friend Joe Shanahan, owner of the first club they ever played in, accepted on their behalf.

Reading a statement prepared by Billy Corgan, Joe told the crowd "choosing Make A Wish as the benefactor to our concert last summer was an easy choice because they embody the compassion that we wished all people could have towards each other".

"Love does not always have to be quiet and graceful, it can be boisterous and loud and even rude, to shout above the din to be heard sometimes…if only to bring a little peace".

The band are now recording their new album with reinstated drummer Jimmy Chamberlain.