The Smashing Pumpkins released Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness thirty years ago today. The double album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, was nominated for seven Grammys and nine VMAs, sold more than 10 million copies in the United States, and became the best-selling double album of the decade.
The lead single “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” spent six weeks at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and four weeks at number one on the RPM Alternative 30 chart. “1979,” the second single from the album, won the VMA for best alternative video (despite the fact that the original footage was left on top of a car and lost when the driver unknowingly drove off). Billy Corgan considers it their best video. The video for “Tonight, Tonight” won six VMAs.
Amid the album’s success, the tour resulted in tragedy. In May 1996, 17 year old Bernadette O’Brien was crushed to death at the Dublin show. During the tour, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin’s father died which increased his drug use which led to Jimmy overdosing twice on tour. In July, Jimmy ODed a third time along with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, resulting in Jonathan’s death (which later inspired Sarah McLachlan to write the song “Angel”). Jimmy was arrested for drug possession and kicked out of the band. The Smashing Pumpkins hired a new drummer and keyboard player, but Billy Corgan later said that continuing the tour was the worst decision the band ever made.