Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan hosts benefit concert for Highland Park – Chicago Tribune

Billy Corgan, lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, thanked people for their support whether they were tuning in virtually or from inside Madame Zuzu’s Cafe, the tea house Corgan and his partner Chloé Mendel own in Highland Park.

The concert, titled “Together and Together Again,” organized by Corgan and Mendel, raised money for the Foundation’s July 4th Highland Park Shooting Response Fund.

Just before midnight, the concert had raised $57,315, according to the YouTube streaming page.

The show featured short sets from several different bands and musicians including Bob Moses and Billy Swan. It was livestreamed on the Smashing Pumpkins YouTube channel, where viewers were able to donate and buy artwork such as posters and T-shirts from artist Gary Baseman.

“The reason I named it ‘Together and Together Again’ is we won’t stop. We will always come together,” Corgan said. “We will always bond around what we care about, our community and our love for one another. No one can take that away from us. And tonight we begin to reclaim that for Highland Park, and we want to bring that message to the world.”

Corgan also held a private show Tuesday night for first responders and victims of the shooting.

“This is a community reeling,” Corgan said. “I’ve lived here for 20 years. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”

– Stephanie Casanova and Gavin Good