Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin recently discussed the band’s collaboration with Yungblud and its remarkable impact on their fanbase. He shared insights about the partnership in an interview with Go with Elmo Lovano.
Chamberlin reflected on the band’s longevity and their recent collaboration with the British artist for his song “Zombie.” He revealed the significant boost it provided to their streaming numbers.
“The reason Neil Young is so successful and the smartest thing he ever did was just not go away and he just waited for the cycles to kind of return in,” Chamberlin said. “And now we’re seeing it. We’re seeing you know that we did that thing with Yungblud. Which was very cool. It put us on the map and we gained like two million followers on Spotify in one month.”
The drummer expressed his appreciation for Yungblud’s acknowledgment of the band’s influence on his music.
“And I love that kid. I mean, and to have him like acknowledge, you know, that we’re the inspiration for the way he hears music and the way he writes or at least a part of that stuff,” he continued. “It means that somebody’s listening and it’s not the people that had to listen when they turned on MTV because that was the only thing coming through the pie hole. There’s no curation, right? And there’s no doorkeepers.”
The collaboration demonstrates how cross-generational partnerships can introduce established artists to new audiences in the streaming era.
This partnership represents a significant milestone in The Smashing Pumpkins’ three-decade career. It marks their first-ever collaborative release with another artist. uDiscover Music reported that Yungblud initiated the collaboration directly by reaching out to Billy Corgan after the original version of “Zombie” was released on May 30, 2025.
The reimagined version of “Zombie” was released on January 2, 2026. It features both Yungblud and Corgan swapping vocals and was produced by Matt Schwartz and Corgan himself. The track has gained significant recognition beyond streaming numbers. uDiscover Music noted that the acoustic version of “Zombie” is nominated for Best Rock Song at the 68th annual Grammy Awards. The album “Idols” is nominated for Best Rock Album.
Yungblud’s deep connection to The Smashing Pumpkins’ music became evident in his creative process. Loudwire revealed that the British artist explicitly drew inspiration from The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1993 album “Siamese Dream” when creating the original “Zombie.” He channeled “the sadness and the melancholic emotion mixed with the aggression of Billy’s guitars.”
The collaboration extends beyond the recording studio. Songfacts confirmed that the partnership includes an official music video directed by Charlie Sarsfield, featuring both Yungblud and The Smashing Pumpkins. This follows the success of the original video starring actress Florence Pugh as a nurse grappling with grief and burnout. It demonstrates the song’s emotional depth and visual storytelling impact.
