Smashing Pumpkins include Raleigh in upcoming tour

Smashing Pumpkins have added one final date to their August tour and that date just happens to be in Raleigh. The band will play at the Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center on August 17. Tickets for the show will go on sale Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m. via the ticket beast.

If you're going to the show to see the Pumpkins of old, you're probably out of luck. Check out my review of their show in Greensboro last November here to get an idea of what to expect. Who knows though, the band may take their back catalog more seriously on this tour.

The Pumpkins also plan to release a Gish box set sometime in future to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band. A Gish anniversary tour is said to be in the works for early 2009.

In other Pumpkins news, Fender guitars recently announced that they have released a Billy Corgan signature stratocaster (specs here). He's holding his signature guitars in the photo above. So if you've been trying for years to capture that signature, high-gain sound, your prayers have been answered. It doesn't come cheap though. Sam Ash is selling the guitar for $1199.99 so start saving.

Here's the August tour dates:
8 - Davenport, IA - Adler Theatre
9 - Hammond, IN - The Venue
12 - Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
13 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Theatre
15 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
16 - Charlottesville, VA - Charlottesville Pavillion
17 - Raleigh, NC - Memorial Auditorium
19 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park Amphitheatre
20 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall