In news that will interest fans of overwrought 1990s alt-rock, the Smashing Pumpkins have not only reformed but are supposedly playing a couple of shows in Germany. Will this be a triumphant return? Have the horrors of My Chemical Romance and their bretheren forever poisoned the well for the Pumpkins’ brand of I-have-a-loud-guitar-and-I-care rock’n'roll? Will Billy Corgan manage to regain his perspective and realise that people enjoy his songs when they sound good, and contain actual guitars and melodies, and not when they’re over-produced, introspective meanderings? Does ‘reformed’ in fact mean anything other than “Billy by himself in a studio”?  Only time will tell.

Homer: You know, my kids think you’re the greatest. And thanks to your gloomy music, they’ve finally stopped dreaming of a future I can’t possibly provide.

Billy: Well, we try to make a difference.