The Smashing Pumpkins have unveiled “Black Stars,” a new song that appears on the soundtrack for the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Beyond serving as a soundtrack addition for the new Hunger Games prequel film, which arrives on November 20th, “Black Stars” marks a significant reunion for Smashing Pumpkins with Butch Vig; Vig produced and engineered Gish, the band’s 1991 debut, and returned in 1993 for the lauded Siamese Dream. After Siamese Dream, the band moved on to other producers, most notably Flood and Alan Moulder for 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Background and Release
Back in May of this year, frontman <strong=Billy Corgan revealed via a Substack livestream that the Pumpkins had “recorded one song” with Vig behind the boards for the first time in 33 years, saying the track was “98% done.” That song has now been revealed to have been “Black Stars,” a moody, mid-tempo cut that features a siren-like guitar line, vocal harmonies, a half-time bridge, and Corgan’s signature sneer.
Current Tour and Reviews
Smashing Pumpkins are on tour at the moment for their “Rats in a Cage Tour,” a North American arena tour including a full playthrough of Mellon Collie along with a handful of their other hits. Read our review from this week’s homecoming tour stop in Chicago, which we described as “a singalong that was anything but melancholy.” Check out their tour dates below, and get tickets to see Smashing Pumpkins here.
Legacy and Accolades
Smashing Pumpkins also made Consequence’s list of the 100 Best Bands of All Time. Corgan himself was one of the contributors, telling Consequence that in addition to bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, The Kinks loom large as one of the best rock groups in history: “Ray Davies is one of the greatest songwriters of all time,” Corgan said, “… They opened up genres that didn’t exist.”
Smashing Pumpkins 2026 Tour Dates:
10/17 – Jacksonville, FL @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
10/18 – Tampa, FL @ Benchmark International Arena
10/20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/22 – Nashville, TN @ The Truth
10/24 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
10/25 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center
10/27 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
10/29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
10/30 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
11/01 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
11/03 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
11/05 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
11/06 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
11/08 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
11/11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mortgage Matchup Center
11/12 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
11/14 – Huntington Beach, CA @ Darker Waves
In conclusion, the release of “Black Stars” marks an exciting reunion between Smashing Pumpkins and Butch Vig, and the band’s current tour and legacy continue to solidify their place in the music world. With their unique sound and enduring popularity, Smashing Pumpkins remain a beloved and respected force in the music industry.
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