Late October and Smashing Pumpkins go hand in hand. Double meaning, of course.
They now intertwine at Wrigley Field, albeit for somewhat different reasons.
Chicagoland native Billy Corgan, of alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins fame, was on site at Wrigley Field Friday night in advance of Game 3 of the World Series. He acknowledged that he is a "Cubs celebrity," but don't put him alongside others who may fit the description.
"I don't talk to other Cubs celebrities. In fact, I am 'anti' Cubs celebrity," Corgan said. "Other Cubs celebrities tend to show up when the playoffs come around. I don't necessarily see them in June. I might be a little biased being a Chicagoan year-round."
And Corgan has seen his share of Cubs games over the years. His favorite players included Bob Dernier and Andre Dawson, key cogs in the 1984 and 1989 N.L. East championship seasons, respectively. He lamented the lean years of the late-70s and early-80s and how this year's team was worth the wait.
"You have a different appreciation of this moment because it's taken a long time to get here. I find myself thinking about my grandmothers --who were fans-- and all the people who didn't get a chance to see this team."
MLB
Corgan applauded how this current Cubs team was built and looks forward to several other potential playoff runs down the line.
Corgan is a familiar face around Wrigley Field in the postseason. He sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during Game 7 of the NLCS.
Fittingly, the Pumpkins' 1996 hit "Tonight, Tonight" blared through the Wrigley speakers Friday at 6:33 p.m. CT.