Smashing Pumpkins Reunite With Melissa Auf Der Maur and Tap Barry Williams for a Playful Chicago Pre-Lollapalooza Set

CHICAGO, IL — Smashing Pumpkins turned their Wednesday night pre-Lollapalooza warmup into a celebration of surprises, bringing out former bassist Melissa Auf der Maur and The Brady Bunch actor Barry Williams at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre.

The show served as a preview of the band’s Lollapalooza 2026 appearance, with Billy Corgan and company leaning into a setlist that mixed signature hits with rarer material and a few offbeat guest moments fans would not have expected.

Deep cuts and first plays gave longtime fans plenty to talk about

The set opened with familiar anchors like “1979,” “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and “Edin,” then widened into fan favorites including “Tonight, Tonight,” “Jellybelly” and “Disarm.” But the bigger draw for many in the room was the return of songs the band has not played in years.

“Dorian” was performed for the first time since 2015, “Thirty-Three” returned for the first time since 2018, and “War Dreams of Itself” from Aghori Mhori Mei got its live debut. For a band with a deep catalog, the mix made the night feel less like a routine promo stop and more like a carefully chosen treat for devotees.

Barry Williams joined in for a Brady Bunch singalong that no one saw coming

Midway through the show, the Pumpkins brought out Barry Williams, best known to viewers as Greg Brady, for a cover of “It’s a Sunshine Day.” The song, originally performed by the Brady kids on the sitcom, turned the theater into an unexpected television-meets-alt-rock crossover.

The collaboration had added context for fans who follow Corgan beyond the stage: Williams had appeared on the frontman’s podcast The Magnificent Others earlier this year. Onstage, the performance leaned into the novelty, with backing singers animatedly moving along as Corgan delivered the song in his trademark long black leather coat.

Auf der Maur’s return hints at more nostalgia as Pumpkins head into a major festival moment

The night ended with another reunion when Melissa Auf der Maur joined the band for “The Everlasting Gaze.” It marked a follow-up to the pair’s reunion in Montreal just over a year ago, their first performance together since 2000.

That timing adds extra buzz to the band’s return to Lollapalooza, where Smashing Pumpkins will play their first set at the festival in 32 years. Fans who cannot make it to Chicago will be able to stream the performance live on Hulu and Disney+, while Auf der Maur has her own new music news after assembling her first album in 16 years from songs written during her time with Pumpkins and Hole.

Chicago's music scene, one story at a time — Chicago Music Guide.