Billy Corgan and his current Smashing Pumpkins explain why they only feel the need to play certain older songs and why they won't "sell out" like other band's from the 90's have.

For several years The Smashing Pumpkins have baffled fans and outsiders alike through moves like unexpected lineup changes and their reticence to play more than a few classic tunes at concerts. In the band's recent backstage sitdown at London's O2 Academy, Billy Corgan and crew addressed many of those topics. Corgan's thoughts on the current version of the band seemed to point to what was missing in previous incarnations:

"I think this particular lineup of the band is very good for who we need to be today -- which is nimble, quick, very diverse. We play a progressive style, we're very consistent, we get along very well, we like working together, we have common musical goals and  I think we have a very bright future."

Corgan also revealed that the band rejected their label's suggestion to focus on older songs to support the upcoming reissues of 'Gish' and 'Siamese Dream.' The SP frontman further explained the cause for their refusal to oblige the label's request:

"We just play what we want to play from those records. We don't feel like we have to support those deliberately. We're so focused on the future that we're only playing the stuff from the past that's fun to play and makes the concert be a better concert. I'm happy to be in a band that still believes in something, still wants to change things, still wants to kind of push the barriers and boundaries of what's possible. It's amazing how many people from my generation have just totally sold out and cashed in and go play their old songs and they have no ambition, no future. They don't call you and 'old band' anymore, they call you a 'heritage act' -- that's the last thing we're going to be."

The band also gave a progress report on the new album 'Oceania,' saying it will be a 13 song, hour-long affair that will most likely hit stores in March 2012 as oppose to the planned release this month.

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