The rumors were finally confirmed by Shirley Manson of Garbage. Producer Butch Vig, behind Nirvana’s Nevermind, Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream and AFI’s Sing The Sorrow is producing the follow-up to Green Day’s American Idiot album.

Writing for the album is confirmed by Reprise to be happening in an East Bay studio. They are under disguise as the Foxboro Hot Tubs.

Green Day or their label, Reprise, will not comment.

It’s shaping up to be a big 20th anniversary from Chicago alternative rock icons Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and whoever the fuck else Billy hired to be in the band now, are going out on the road, premiering a song on Guitar Hero, releasing a DVD, and hopefully rekindling some fanships from those of us who think it’s been bleak ever since Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness. Several of their tour stops include 2-night stints where no songs will be repeated.

“Chicago, Toronto, New York, Washington, Boston, Kansas City and Los Angeles. With such a vast repertoire, the Pumpkins are coming prepared with completely different set lists in each of the multi-night engagements with no songs being repeated over the course of the two night run. Night #1 is being called “Black Sunshine,” while night #2 will be dubbed “White Crosses.” A special two-night ticket bundle will be available for all multi-night engagements.”

So I take it they’re not doing “White Crosses” in the deep south? Smart move there, baldy.

Sat 11/1 Cleveland, OH Palace Theatre
Mon 11/3 Toronto, ONT Massey Hall
Tue 11/4 Toronto, ONT Massey Hall
Thu 11/6 New York, NY United Palace Theatre
Fri 11/7 New York, NY United Palace Theatre
Sat 11/8 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
Tue 11/11 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
Wed 11/12 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
Fri 11/14 Boston, MA Wang Center
Sat 11/15 Boston, MA Wang Center
Sun 11/16 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Tue 11/18 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
Wed 11/19 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
Fri 11/21 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Sat 11/22 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Wed 11/26 St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre
Sun 11/30 San Diego, CA RIMAC Arena
Tue 12/2 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
Wed 12/3 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre

Press Release following Jump:

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Though her recent albums have been pretty awful, Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville still stands the test of time. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Dave Matthews’s ATO Records is releasing a special edition of the landmark, out of print album with four unreleased B-sides and a DVD, Guyville Redux, a 60-minute making-of documentary.  Guyville Redux will also feature an introduction by Matthews and look at the early ’90s Chicago indie music scene that also featured bands such as Urge Overkill and Smashing Pumpkins. Phair herself interviews local rock luminaries such as super producer Steve Albini and Matador Records‘ Gerard Cosloy and Chris Lombardi as well as actor John Cusack and NPR’s Ira Glass.

The Guyville reissue will be out June 24th and will prelude Phair’s new studio album, which purports to see the songwriter getting back into “the DIY spirit” (we’ll have to wait and see), this fall.

Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain told Spinner that him and Billy Corgan plan on hitting the studio later this spring, but added “I don’t think we will make records again.”

Pointing out that the band’s contractual commitment to Reprise Records is finished, the drummer explains “I look at it like the old business model is dead and the music business doesn’t know how to move forward. We want to keep things vital and keep things viable and get our music across while remaining relevant. Music has in many ways just become an advertisement for your tour. ”

“I think what we’ll do is start releasing songs,” Chamberlin continues. “The record or CD format places too many limitations on your piece of art. People just don’t buy records anymore. Anyone under the age of 24 just buys songs. It’s just in our best interest to release blocks of songs. And I think what we’ll do – not to let the cat out of the bag too much – is to create the framework where we can release a number of songs and maybe create a title. We can gather three or four songs, but it will all flow up to a larger body of work. But to call it record in the traditional sense would be anachronistic.”

Guess its a lot easier to buck the system when you’ve scanned 10 million or so units, own your own studio and have legions of fans who will gladly pay for your warmed-over noodlings, ie Zeitgeist.

1. Outdated Memes

2. Shameless Linkz

3. YouTube

4. Late Breaking News

Synthesis photographer Hali McGrath made the long haul out to East Rutherford, NJ, for the last show of the 24-hour Live Earth concert series. Held on 7.7.07 in cities across the globe, Live Earth sought to raise awareness about the dangers of climate change. It also managed to bring together a lot of great acts. Here are just a sampling of Hali’s photos. Shots of Akon, Alicia Keys, Zach Braff, Smashing Pumpkins, John Mayer, The Police, Al Gore and Cameron Diaz after the jump. Look for more photos soon in an upcoming issue of Synthesis Digital. (more…)