Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan will be playing classics from his beloved group when he hits the road this summer, though his backing group will look a little different.

Hitting the live trail throughout June, Corgan will be joined by his new band, the Machines of God, for the 16-date tour of North America. 

Dubbed A Return to Zero, the trek sees Corgan and his band touring in support of the 30th anniversary of the Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and the 25th anniversary of the 2000 albums Machina/The Machines of God and Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music. The tour will feature classics and deep cuts from the records, along with selections from 2024’s Aghori Mhori Mei.

Joining Corgan in the Machines of God is nascent Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Kiki Wong, drummer Jake Hayden, and bassist Kid Tigrrr (aka Jenna Fournier of NIIGHTS).

This isn’t the only retrospective look that Corgan is taking in 2025. In early March, Corgan detailed a forthcoming series of performances which sees him and the Lyric Opera of Chicago reimagining Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in a new operatic light in November. “Opera and rock both tell stories of heightened emotions, and I am excited for both fans of my music and traditional opera fans to hear some truly inspired work; for the balance here is to honor both traditions in a magisterial way,” Corgan explained.

Mellon Collie was issued in 1995 as the band’s third album, and managed to become the Smashing Pumpkins’ first release to debut atop the Billboard 200. The record also garnered seven nominations at the 1997 Grammys, including album of the year and best alternative music album, ultimately winning best hard rock performance for lead single, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings.”

Meanwhile, Machina/The Machines of God arrived in February 2000 as the band’s last studio album to be commercially released ahead of their breakup later that year. The record hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and received a Grammy nomination for best recording package.

Its follow-up, Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, was released in September of 2000 as a free download after plans to release the records as a double album fell through. A long-awaited reissue of the Machina albums is set to arrive later in the year.

Billy Corgan and the Machines of God – A Return to Zero North American Tour

June 7 – Baltimore Soundstage, Baltimore, MD
June 9 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
June 11 – Kee to Bala, Muskoka, ON
June 12 – History, Toronto, ON
June 13 – Beanfield Theatre, Montreal, QC
June 15 – Irving Plaza, New York, NY
June 16 – Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
June 17 – Archer Music Hall, Allentown, PA
June 19 – St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit, MI
June 20 – Taste of Joliet, Joliet, IL
June 21 – Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI
June 23 – Roxian Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
June 25 – House of Blues Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
June 26 – Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH
June 27 – Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI
June 29 – Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN

UPDATE (MARCH 31): After concluding her historic residency in Mexico on Sunday (March 30) with her last of seven concerts at the GNP Seguros Stadium in the capital, Shakira announced two more dates in the Latin American country on Monday (March 31), extending her own record to 22 shows on a single tour. This is the fourth time in five days that the Colombian superstar has added dates in Mexico as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour.

“The She-Wolf continues breaking records and making history. We have the 11th date of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour at the Estadio GNP Seguros and a new date at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara!” OCESA announced on social media.

With these two new shows, the Colombian superstar reaffirms her position as the first artist in history to perform that number of shows on a single tour en Mexico, 11 of which will be at the aforementioned stadium, where she is expected to draw a total of 715,000 people, according to the promoter.

The new date at the GNP Seguros Stadium is scheduled for August 26th, adding to the previously announced dates for the 27th, 29th, and 30th of the same month. The new show announced for the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara is scheduled for September 7th, adding to the one scheduled for the 6th.

Named on Monday by Billboard as No. 1 among the Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time, Shakira is poised to break the record of eight shows at the GNP Seguros Stadium (formerly Foro Sol), currently held by Grupo Firme.

PREVIOUSLY (MARCH 29): About to wrap up the first part of her historic residency at the Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City this Sunday (March 30) with a seventh show, Shakira has announced four additional dates in Mexico, including one more at the aforementioned venue on August 27, which adds to the already scheduled shows on August 29 and 30, promoter OCESA announced Saturday (March 29).

With these four concerts, the Colombian superstar brings the total of dates of her first world stadium tour to 20 in Mexico, 10 of them at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), setting a new record as the act with the most shows at this major venue. Regional Mexican band Grupo Firme have held the title so far with eight.

“As a thank you to her fans and in response to unprecedented demand, the singer has announced four more dates. The first stop will be in the city of Monterrey,” OCESA said on social media.

The promoter specified that Shakira’s second leg of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour in Mexico will kick off on August 23 at the iconic Parque Fundidora, which has opened its doors for the Colombian singer to return to this northern border city. The other three dates include Sept. 3 at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro and Sept. 11 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla.

PREVIOUSLY (MARCH 28): Shakira continues breaking records in Mexico, where she will perform five additional shows as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour, including two dates dates at the Estadio GNP Seguros in the capital on August 29 and 30, the latter announced on Friday (March 28) by the promoter OCESA.

With this new show, the Colombian superstar brings the total number of dates on her first world stadium tour to 16 in the Latin American country.

“Shakira continues to make history in Mexico! Due to high demand, another date of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has been added at the GNP Seguros Stadium,” OCESA said in a statement.

Pre-sale for Banamex cardholders began Friday at 1:20 p.m. (local time), one day before the general sale.

ORIGINAL STORY (MARCH 26): Shakira continues breaking records in Mexico, where she will perform four additional shows as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour, including one more date at the capital’s GNP Seguros Stadium on August 29, OCESA announced on Wednesday (March 26).

“11 dates are not enough; the She-Wolf will return with four more dates in August and September,” the promoter said on social media.

With this, the Colombian superstar will reach the historic milestone of eight performances at the aforementioned venue (previously known as Foro Sol) over two separate phases of her tour. The feat surpasses shows by other international icons such as Paul McCartney, Metallica, Coldplay, and Taylor Swift.

The other three tour dates in Mexico will be at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro on September 2, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on September 6, and Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla on September 12. Presale tickets for Banamex cardholders will take place on March 28, while general ticket sales will begin on March 29, added the promoter.

On Tuesday night (March 25), Shakira performed the fourth of seven concerts that make up her unprecedented residency at Estadio GNP Seguros, making her the first artist to sell out such a number of nights at the imposing venue, which will bring together a total of 455,000 attendees, according to OCESA.

Launched on February 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour is set to visit the Dominican Republic, Chile, and Colombia before arriving in the United States on May 13.

In an interview with Billboard Español in Mexico City, Shakira said that the tour has become something more intimate and profound. “These are more than just concerts. They are deep encounters where healing happens,” she said, adding that, with each performance, she feels “stronger and happier.”

Check out OCESA’s announcement below.

The world of electronic music is currently coming to terms with news of an international ruse which has seen former Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür reportedly tricked into a false collaboration with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter.

Flür, who rose to fame as part of Kraftwerk between 1973 and 1987, issued his third solo album, Times, on Friday (March 28). Early reports of the record indicated the effort was a star-studded affair, featuring collaborations with the likes of Yello’s Boris Blank, New Order’s Peter Hook, and more. One of the most notable collaborations was with Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, who was to be credited on the record under the name Thomas Vangarde.

According to a recent interview with Flür, the apparent collaboration began innocently enough when Bangalter got in touch with the veteran musician via social media to request a signed copy of Flür’s 2022 album, Magazine 1. “He said, ‘It’s so wonderful. Can I have a signed album? I collect albums but it must be signed personally from you. We love you guys. Without Kraftwerk we would not find our own robot style, being on stage with the helmets, you know. And I love you Wolfgang. And please, can you send me [an album]?’”

After the signed record landed at Bangalter’s house, Flür explained that he suggested the two work together on a track. Following some technical alterations to ensure Bangalter’s contributions fit the key of the initial musical ideas, his work was combined with Hook’s bass line, and both Flür and musical partner Peter Duggal completed the track. The final record actually features two songs credited to Bangalter/Vangarde; “Über_All” and “Monday to the Moon.”

However, following the release of Flür’s Times album, Daft Punk archivist Luke Perez took to their blog to confirm the collaboration was in fact a hoax, outlining the chronology of events that led up to the release of the final product.

According to research conducted by Perez, Flür had spoken about being contacted by Bangalter via Facebook back in 2023, admitting he was unaware of the Daft Punk member or his influence at the time. 

Though initially suspicious of the news, given the reclusive social media presence of Daft Punk and its members, Perez further noted that something seemed amiss when Thomas Vangarde was credited on the record instead of Bangalter. Further compounding the mystery was the fact that Bangalter’s father had reportedly used the surname as a moniker during his own musical past, providing a reasonable explanation for the different name.

Ultimately, Perez concluded by mentioning that an individual in close contact with Daft Punk’s management had confirmed that Bangalter was not behind the collaboration with Flür, and that the former Kraftwerk musician had been duped by an as-yet-unknown individual on social media.

“I’m assuming the fake Bangalter must have convinced Flür’s camp that he was now going by Thomas Vangarde in some sort of effort to cover their tracks,” Perez concluded in their post. “Bizarrely, it seems no one in the real Thomas Bangalter’s sphere found out about this or brought this up to him until after the tracks released despite over two years of this being known about. It’s equally bizarre that at no point did Cherry Red Records (or any other involved party) question or debunk this bold claim that Thomas Bangalter was involved.”

Daft Punk officially announced their split in 2021, having not released new music since their fourth and final studio album, 2013’s Random Access Memories. The record was their first to top the Billboard 200, and earned the group five Grammys, including album of the year and best dance/electronic album, while lead single “Get Lucky” took out record of the year and best pop duo/group performance.

Since their dissolution, Bangalter has been active musically, curating scores for ballet, film, and other art projects, while fellow Daft Punk member Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo has remained active in the world of production.

Lee Zeidman, longtime president of Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater and LA Live, announced his retirement on Friday (March 28).

“After 45 years in the industry, opening numerous venues and hosting approximately 6,500 events, I have decided I’m no longer interested in working full time and will move on to write the next chapter in the book of Lee,” Zeidman tells Billboard. “I’m looking forward to doing whatever I want, whenever I want, wherever I want and however I want.”

Zeidman says he has agreed to assist with the leadership transition with an official end date no later than Oct. 31, 2025. The building’s ownership group, AEG, has engaged an executive recruitment team to find Zeidman’s replacement and is splitting the job into multiple positions.

Zeidman is a graduate of Cal State Northridge and got his big break working at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. When the Lakers and Kings decided to move to Downtown Los Angeles, Zeidman was the first employee hired at their new home, Staples Center, and he helped manage the construction of L.A. Live, one of North America’s first entertainment districts.

In 2020, Zeidman was honored with the Association of Luxury Suite Directors’ 2020 Visionary Award. Under his management, Staples Center, later renamed Crypto.com Arena, hosted nine NBA championships, three Stanley Cup Finals and five WNBA Finals. The arena has also hosted a multitude of sold-out concerts, awards shows and high-profile events, including the Grammys and funerals for Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle.

Zeidman says he has no immediate plans in his retirement but would like to teach and serve on the board of different non-profit groups or associations.

“I’m most looking forward to doing nothing,” Zeidman says. “Iv’e done this for 45 years, I’ve worked for some incredible leaders and feel incredibly lucky to have had this career.”