Are the Smashing Pumpkins vegetarian?

You, too, must be wondering if they are vegetarian — the four Smashing Pumpkins members Billy Corgan (lead vocals, lead guitar), James Iha (rhythm guitar), D’arcy Wretzky (bass guitar) and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums). Otherwise, why would they give themselves such a name?

That was the first question I asked the band in an exclusive e-mail interview (stay tuned for the answer).

Formed in 1988 in Chicago, the band has been changing members since then, with Corgan as the only remaining original member and the three others replaced by Mike Byrne (22, drums), Nicole Florentino (bass) and Korean-American Jeff Schroeder (rhythm guitar).

Smashing Pumpkins are performing at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, Aug. 7.

“The band’s repertoire includes songs from its album Oceania,” assured Charlemagne Lim of the Little Asia chain of restaurants which is presenting the concert. “It will be a musical experience the fans will never forget. You have to see the band live to fully enjoy its music.”

How did your group get its name; are you hmmm, vegetarian?

The group got its name from a passing vegetable truck. Pumpkin fell out the back, whizz-bang you got a future. 

Your band was formed in 1988 — a different time and with a then burgeoning alternative rock scene. How would you describe your contemporary acts then vis-a-vis the scene now? 

Bands then were like bands now. Most not so good with some innovators, many in it for the social scene more than the music. Those had a real ambition made it out. 

Is there a big difference in the creative process between your Gish album and Oceania?

The process in creativity has much to do with our shared objective. Different spot on the horizon yields differing results. 

How do you see the future of music vis-a-vis not just the Internet, but technology as substituting for live instruments?

Music has no future per se, for the past has become impossible to surmount. The great bands will live forever, virtually speaking. Everyone now can make noise and cute sounds. 

Any surprises in your forthcoming concert in Manila?

No, other than the surprise of doing what we always do. 

(The Smashing Pumpkins Live in Manila is presented by Little Asia; co-presented by Russian Standard Vodka; with major sponsor FOX; special thanks to Music Management International, Polyeast EMI, and FILSCAP; with media partners: MYX, Rogue, RX 93.1 and Mellow 94.7. For tickets, call 911-5555 or visit www.ticketnet.com.ph. Ticket prices are: Patron P4,555 [standing], Lower Box P3,555 [reserved seating], Upper Box A P1,755 [free seating], Upper Box B P995 [free seating] and General Admission P555 [free seating]. According to Charlemagne, tickets holders can avail of the 20 percent discount promo at Little Asia outlets by simply presenting their tickets. Promo is good until Aug. 31.)

A Blessing For You: A poem for everybody

I was rummaging through piles and piles of past STAR issues when I came upon the following poem in Funfare circa Jan. 9, 2004, sent to me by celebrity lawyer Katrina Legarda (photo, a nominee for Supreme Court Justice already interviewed by the Judicial Bar Council the other day). It’s such a moving piece that I am sharing it again with Funfare readers.

A Blessing For You

If you woke up this morning

with more health than illness,

you are more blessed than the

million who won’t survive the week.

If you have never experienced

the danger of battle,

the loneliness of imprisonment,

the agony of torture or

the pangs of starvation,

you are ahead of 20 million people

around the world.

If you attend a church meeting

without fear of harassment,

arrest, torture, or death,

you are more blessed than almost

three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator

clothes on your back, a roof over

your head and a place to sleep,

you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank

in your wallet, and spare change

in a dish someplace, you are among

the top 80% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are still married

and alive, you are very rare

especially in the United States.

If you hold someone’s hand, hug them

or even touch them on the shoulder,

you are blessed because you can

offer God’s healing touch.

If you can read this message,

you are more blessed than over

two billion people in the world

that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways

you may never even know.

Katrina wrote something that kept replaying in my mind. It read: “If you are feeling blessed, repay the blessings bestowed unto you and do something for others. A blessing cannot be kept. If it stops with you, then the blessing will disappear. The blessing will only keep working if it is continuously passed around. If you are a recipient of a blessing, keep the blessing working by being the source of blessing to other people.”

Her reminder to me then was this: “Pass this poem on to as many people as you can.”

I request you to do the same, too.

What’s up?

• Cornelio de Guzman, grandfather of JM de Guzman (star of the Cinemalaya 2012 entry Intoy Siokoy), is now with the Office of the President as consultant for media relations. In his 34 years in Bulletin, he was either Provincial, Op-Ed or Tourism editor (and not a photographer). JM’s father Ronniel works as a reporter also in Bulletin.

• Vice Pres. Jojo Binay will read love poems on election lawyer Romy Macalintal’s DWBR program The Law of the Heart is Love this weekend (Saturday, with a replay on Sunday).

• Here’s a letter from reader Ditas Calimbahin:

Dearest Ricky,

As a fan and as a friend, I was very disappointed with last Saturday’s episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya on the life of Venus Raj. MMK failed to acknowledge the Francis Padua Papica Foundation, Inc. who sent her to college in Bicol. It was Francis who moved heaven and earth to make sure that Venus get to represent our country in the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant in which she played fourth runner-up.

I cannot believe that neither Francis’ name nor that of his foundation was ever mentioned. The episode touched on Venus’ schooling, her disqualification and the issuance of her passport. But not once did they mention the person responsible for it. This would have been a great opportunity to promote awareness for FPPFI.

I believe that credit should be given where it is due. I believe that as you tell your life story, you should never forget the name of the person who helped you get to where you are today.  — Ditas Calimbahin

(Reply: Well, you know, Ditas, fame and popularity have a way of turning some people amnesiac. Venus Raj is not the only one afflicted with that “disease.”)