November 8, 2006 10:56

Billy Corgan plays low-key show with Pete Townshend

Smashing Pumpkins frontman plays four new songs

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan emerged from a year out of the public eye to play a few songs at a multi-act show featuring Pete Townshend in Los Angeles last night (November 7).

The star played late in the gig at the Hotel Cafe, appearing uneasy and tuning his guitar frequently. He went on to play four as-yet-untitled new songs.

Early in the show, Corgan and his bandmate Jimmy Chamberlin, who are currently recording what will be their first album in seven years, stood by and watched performances by Townshend, E from Eels, Minnie Driver, Pete’s brother Simon Townshend, and Pete Townshend’s girlfriend and songwriting partner Rachel Fuller, who organised the show.

Fuller admitted she thought Corgan was “nervous” since he hadn’t played live for so long.

The show was part of Fuller’s 'In The Attic' series, which has featured interviews and performances by artists such as The Flaming Lips, Razorlight, The Kooks and The Zutons.

Corgan provided no news about his ongoing work with the reunited Smashing Pumpkins — or whom exactly that entails — but during the show Townshend spoke favorably about the new material he had heard.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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