The Smashing Pumpkins - The Aeroplane Flies High (7/4/1997 - Belfort, France)

Live in Belfort, France.
1997

[@gramoulzlu]

One of the worst off-time clapping I have ever heard.

[@julianazlatevski1489]

+Gramoul Zlu its so annoying

[@gramoulzlu]

Absolutely!

[@louisk1971]

+Gramoul Zlu Other than that this is easily one of the best Pumpkins performances ever

[@gramoulzlu]

+Louis K I have met people who were at that show actually and it amazed them. Tons of good stuff on the live archives but what I like about 1997 is that though the band was damaged internally, they still delivered this frontal, punchy catchy and direct version of the songs, raw and melodic at the same time, a good and to the point choice of arrangement in my opinion!

[@louisk1971]

+Gramoul Zlu Absolutely, I think '97 was a really good year for them performance wise even with all of the inner trouble and turmoil, same goes for the Adore era which I think is really underrated (and Billy's solo here is genuinely breathtaking)

[@iainrobb2076]

That this was not included on Mellon Collie is astonishing. It is one of the very finest things they ever did.

[@iainrobb2076]

I know. That moment where the key changes into sustained discord towards the end is spine-tingling. The build up is incredible. This track sounds like Atlantis being dredged up.

[@TheJayofthejungle]

you could say that for a ton of Mellon Collie b-sides. This song, marquis, god, mouths of Babes, Pennies, Set the ray to jerry, ugly, the boy, the last song. Boom album.

[@werideatdusk]

i think it existed only as a riff until they finished it in april or may of 96, long after MCIS came out. if my memory serves this was the last thing he and jimmy were working on before the overdose

[@Xuevium]

True.. it should have been as this is one of their greatest songs in my opinion. But I still remember the day I bought the special limited addition Aeroplane Flies High box set with this song on it and others I adore.. like Clones, Dreaming, Tonight Reprise, Mouth of Babes.

[@nesfan8]

The best song from Mellon Collie era, and the best solo too

[@stefanorozcomusic]

Billy's tone in this entire show is to die for probably the best live sound they had

[@POPNDOUGH]

D'arcy's bass is pretty awesome as well.

[@starwinksbackfromtheskypit6790]

Humbucks ran through big muffs are solid tones

[@jonathanwapner6262]

@@starwinksbackfromtheskypit6790 He never used Big Muffs in live situations only recording Siamese Dream. They're too muddy and lose clarity when they can't be enhancedby studio magic. The live SD tone came from a JMP1 preamp OD2 setting. They took that into the studio for MCIS. It's thick like a Big Muff but has much more clarity.

[@starwinksbackfromtheskypit6790]

Jonathan Wapner try running big muffs through Marshall acoustic simulators, pretty similar tone. Thanks for the heads up 🙏🏽

[@asktehdust]

@@jonathanwapner6262 sorry in this very particular case you're wrong. For the 97 festival tour Billy ditched the classic 3630-JMP1-Mesa Strategy rig and went full boutique pedals into Selmer and Orange amps. And the main tones you hear there are fuzz pedals (Lovetone Big Cheese, Roger Mayer Mongoose, Zvex Fuzz Factory, SustainPunch Creamy Dreamer). I have pics where you can see them distinctly. James kept his MCIS rig. The combination of both sounds great I think.

[@blackbke]

This is Smashing Pumpkins at their artistic and commercial peak - especially live - just before everything starts falling apart both as a group and individually. Corgan in particular isn't very talkative anymore during many of the Pumpkins' gigs that year, 1997, already hinting of what is going to happen. Being the biggest rock band around that period, plus internal tensions rising, plus drug and mental issues give the live performance of this song its unique dark melancholic power that's impossible to reproduce in their current line-up. Corgan still makes fine music, but it's impossible to get back to this level of raw, grand rock and roll darkness. And that's probably a good thing for Corgan - you don't want to be depressive to be able to perform that way - but as a nineties Smashing Pumpkins fan it sometimes makes me sad that this intensity of music making will never come back. But I'm probably too sentimental about it :)

[@Vermin80]

wow......i don't know what to say...this is probably the best comment i have ever read about the pumpkins. this is EXACLTY how i am feeling. just couln't write it down with your beautiful words. thank you.

[@concostelloe3176]

I would have said 1996 was the peak. Things were already falling apart by 1997, Jimmy was gone. I still always consider the Machina era to be a high point, it was them going out with a massive bang so to speak.

[@sharnifletcher8550]

The Darkbird X I can tell you now this song has never played on Australian radio ... unfortunately

[@WillCorg]

The Darkbird X, yeah divorce and a mothers death will have that affect on you... 😞

[@TakeFlight]

The Darkbird X true! Record labels through the 2010s are after the shitty low quality indie sound.

[@miadenfria]

One off their most heavy, dark,deeper songs...i always end up returning back to this one

[@dkpepa]

cant agree more .. absolutely stunning.

[@O.D.E.GuitarSoundtracks]

I totally agree Mariah, underrated Song, haunted and yet wonderful

[@roydenbellman]

Future rock historians will look back fondly on the Smashing Pumpkins.

[@misterhat6395]

So that’s what I was doing in college, being a future rock historian!

[@stoicnotsad]

​@@misterhat6395?🤔😵

[@Mathewmatic]

Audiences should never clap the beat. Ever.

[@juju5568]

The French 🤫

[@JamesWilson01]

@Circumambulation Mædia No, they certainly didn't! 🤣

[@thechazdarby]

Matt killed it jumping in for this tour. Such a monster musician.

[@ryanem969]

I think, as a die hard Pumpkin, it was hard to fully embrace the dude. He was the best fill in imaginable in retrospect. His drumming was mean!

[@negativeindustrial]

@@ryanem969 Yeah, dude, for sure. I’m a bass player but I can’t imagine trying to fill the shoes of a drummer the caliber of Jimmy Chamberlain.

[@lastfewtokes]

I just know Billy was dying on the inside during that pathetic attempt at clapping to a beat. That was brutal.

[@Roo_Tech]

Seriously. That was horrendous

[@ethanspencer785]

I was hurting watching it...

[@CD-tj3hg]

God I couldn't stop laughing

[@BlueHopi144]

@@Roo_Tech not as horrendous as your life path ......

[@Roo_Tech]

@@BlueHopi144 bro what 💀💀

[@PiergiorgioCraxi]

Have to say, Wretzky fucking nailed the tone in here.

[@WarmothGuitarist]

Billy probably dialed it in for her...

[@pruston599]

Billy’s effortless-looking guitar-playing skills are out of this world!

[@dontwantachannelthisisagoo3135]

Stop the off-time clapping right now, dammit.

[@goldenboy06]

Couldn’t believe how off time it was...

[@Xuevium]

This is one of my favorite pumpkins songs of all time in addition to Mayonnaise and Starla. There is a quote that Billy says in this song "I've always been afraid to die, but I think I'm more afraid to live" and that has always spoke to me personally because of my depression. Life long fan since 1990.

[@hugochavez5027]

starla and this puts nirvana to shame

[@callum459]

@@hugochavez5027 easy tiger, we can enjoy music without comparing it to other musicians

[@hugochavez5027]

@@callum459 kitty cat kat, i was pointing how SP are underrated compared to nirvana, 2 bands that i love

[@cygnustsp]

Think that was Glass and the Ghost Children

[@kkurt2k]

Funny those are my 3 favorite SP songs that are miles above the rest

[@Ghostypants_]

The drop into just bass at 2:57 gave me chills

[@callumphus]

that huge solo over such a heavy riff. absolutely beautiful stuff

[@howardstewart5504]

Haha. The crowd immediately starts clapping out of tempo to the guitar intro.

[@roydenbellman]

Band just getting better and better and better with every show between mellon collie and Adore. I worship this band which is probably not healthy but somehow justified as a serious music fan. Never understand all the hatred for Corgan, the guy is a rock genius, superb guitar player and amazing lyricist. LONG LIVE THE SMASHING PUMPKINS!

[@Vermin80]

their music was a very big part of my life. still listen to those great records. love the pumpkins till i die i guess. this song is huge.

[@JasonPrzybycien]

Yeah. I wish I'd never sold that box set. But the music lives on here.

[@zebel3397]

The way Billy’s voice gets to the point of shrieking at the end always gets me so emotional. The song hits close to home

[@julianazlatevski1489]

holy shit

[@Rodrigombia1990]

Yeah I said the same when I listened the song for the first time

[@rmyancey]

Still my favorite Smashing Pumpkins jam after 20 plus years.

[@watchdog304]

Billy Corgan is the best Rock guitarist of his generation!

[@Ray-si9co]

Watchdog & for generations to come. I'm expecting big things in the 23rd century!!!

[@mattgoodwin953]

I'm a huge pumpkins fan but this is so ignorant it hurts

[@ALK-le6pv]

@@mattgoodwin953 He was surely one of the best. Isn't like the guy said Cobain (who I liked, but as a songwriter not a guitarist).

[@sandraheaton1084]

He's very underrated as a guitarist. Can't say much about his lyrics though.

[@benjamins9121]

@@mattgoodwin953 In terms of big successful bands I say he is. Yeah you could name some virtuoso shredder but come on

[@wheresallthezombies]

I wonder how pissed he was about the clapping lol

[@EthanReichard]

best performance of this song I love the 2 minute solo

[@MiBzAn]

this song means so much to me - got it tattooed on my forearm. Never stop loving this band and all they have given me over the years. Wonderful performance.

[@Cluter]

What did you get tattooed? I'm looking for SP ideas for tattoos.

[@GGin3D]

Pleeeeeeeease seriously post a link to a photo of this tattoo? This, EVERYBODY needs to see !

[@MiBzAn]

Mathew Clute I got the title "The Aeroplane Flies High - Turns Left Looks Right" on the inside of my right forearm just under the bend. :)

[@MiBzAn]

Also - you got to give it up for Matt Walker - during this tour - he would regularly play a 20 min drum solo. He wasn't Jimmy - but he was the best stand-in I've seen throughout the years.

[@Sixsoul]

MiBzAn agreed. Matt was the only replacement I could stomach. Jimmy is seriously one of the best drummers of all time so that's some impossibly hard shoes to fill.

[@efazsafwan7804]

Holy shit. BEST. PERFORMANCE. EVER.

[@alexmalch]

Not enough Jimmy :(

[@Rodrigombia1990]

I always thought that James did the solos in the song, I have to said that Corgan is FUCKING BRILLIANT as a guitar player...

[@Hollman36]

Rodrigo Manuel Ibarra Juarez he’s a sonic genius

[@ALK-le6pv]

Yeah, Billy was always more focused on being a band leader/songwriter but that made him easily one of the most underrated guitar players of his generation.

[@WarmothGuitarist]

James Iha isn't much of a lead player. He does some of it here and there, but there's no mistaking Billy's leads.

[@logancreed5041]

Actually, it was Billy's DAD that did the solos on the recorded version.

[@RandyRhoadsRules3]

All of the more complicated solos are Billy.

[@GunnaGetYourSister]

At this moment..... Best rock band ever! Think!

[@Aristides368]

Scorching guitar solo by Corgan. Who is rocking out like this today? Nobody.

[@BlueHopi144]

the Pixies , TOOL , and a few more u might not know yet

[@user-ct1ns6zw4z]

@@BlueHopi144 old ass bands

[@leob4403]

@@BlueHopi144 Tool has no groove in their music

[@BlueHopi144]

@@leob4403 said the sad punk listening to johnny rotten 😂

[@BlueHopi144]

@@leob4403 your empty yutube channel says : " i am empty from any form of creativity so i will criticize anything to fill the empty shell i live with " . How about that troll ?

[@RockyBlocky6130]

This still feels so raw and heartbreaking...violent even...you either love this or hate it.

[@kristopherryanwatson]

heartbreaking ?

[@christianc6823]

​@@kristopherryanwatsonyes

[@shelbythompsoon]

I can’t believe I use to play this in a tribute every weekend for a year and I would play bass and sing back up and it was my favorite to perform and I still wish I did

[@thomasbdeneke5628]

To me definitely one of their masterpieces. Absolutely genius. D’Arcy’s bass sets the pace, Billy’s guitar playing is more than great. James‘ riffs build that wall of sound Happy having seen them play in Munich on the MCatIS tour where they played for more than 3 hours. With Filter as support that was one of the most exhausting concert experiences I ever had.

[@robbohannan1893]

Actually Matt Walker is playing drums as Jimmy was fired from the band a few months earlier.

[@BlueHopi144]

Jimmy would have hammered those time signatures 10 times what this guy offered .

[@bmc2579]

This song is part of one of the greatest albums of all time, Melloncollie and the Infinite Sadness. The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the most influential bands of the alternative music era of the early to mid 90s.

[@haix576]

Its not on Mellon Collie

[@FollowMyWay]

Same sessions though. i remember reading an interview with Flood and how he complemented the track, but at the same time telling the reason it got left out of the album was that "it was so fucking heavy".

[@CesarM780]

Same sessions, same era.

[@dickcastle]

I had melon collie, and I definitely don't remember this...

[@CesarM780]

Richard Castaldo it was on the 33 single.

[@tommycullen7933]

What you gave to me is lost, what you took from me is lost, DISCONNECTED BY YOUR SMILE

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

What an awesome jam!! This needs to be heard LOUD!

[@garyrossington2143]

listening to it loud right now!

[@bridgetvonderhaar9214]

Just listened LOUD. FREAKIN LIT!!!!!

[@NoRunArea1988]

One of their most underrated songs right up there with Rocket

[@DonnieRockett]

I gotta say, Billy just fucking has a gift for rocking hard. He crushes.

[@godofspacetime333]

Billy [to himself]: just wait out the clapping, they’ll fucking stop in a second...

[@lexusdav]

😂

[@switch4960]

The crowd tried to sabotage the concert. There is absolutely no way that was a collective effort at rhythm.

[@spnhm34]

I guess after two years of touring Mellon Collie it felt like a bit of a grind, so they started wearing office clothes. That is so Smashing Pumpkins

[@1122stardust]

Matt Walker on drums !! That guy kicked ass ! In Filter as well...

[@mattgoodwin953]

Jimmy Chamberlain would eat his lunch. The difference is sad.

[@endocry]

Yeah man I like Matt Walker but you can tell immediately just by hearing that it's not Jimmy on the drums.

[@mattgoodwin953]

@@endocry yeah, I wasn't trying to take a shot at the guy, but Jimmy is like the Neil Peart of alternative/grunge rock. It's really unfair to try and even compare someone to him.

[@bryanpearson8865]

Jimmy is integral to their sound. Props to Matt for stepping into huge shoes. Better than canceling this tour.

[@MatthewSmith-if5wp]

Right?!!!! The original Filter lineup were a force to be reckoned with.

[@ryanem969]

My man Matt Walker fillin' the boots. Jimmy is Jimmy but Matt is all heart. Love this

[@fluide000]

Pumpkins at their absolute peak.

[@oakandiron_]

This song is a force of nature.

[@mattlines]

Matt Walker with the Pumpkins was great.

[@777Lateralus]

+SavageMadman 99 not as good as Jimmy

[@phosphormannscotty9616]

+777Lateralus no, but it was great

[@gramoulzlu]

+777Lateralus There's only one JC but the different drummers SP got involved often brought something interesting on the table... I wish they were more appreciated for their respective contributions :\

[@MiBzAn]

+SavageMadman 99 He was the best of all the stand-ins in my opinion. Though - none of the other drummers could ever get that distinct "Jimmy Sound" - Matt was the closest one in my opinion. I hated Kenny Arnoff when he filled in - bloody awful. He is a great drummer just NOT for the Pumpkins at all.

[@gramoulzlu]

Still does in my opinion, check his latest In Plainsong one, an incredible mix of almost all eras... and even when it doesn't look like that impressive and quite "too classic" like the Summer 2015 setlist, it can just turn out to be a very powerful design of a show...

[@gavynkeck9702]

I sense great tension in this performance, but it seems like that tension helps to make this performance dark, and powerful. Long live the Pumpkins.

[@dylanlewis3668]

Can’t believe I just found this song

[@EugeneAxe]

Billy's guitar playing gives me Hendrix and Sabbath vibes.

[@StatementPlus]

As a box set owner, SP vinyl owner and used to be die hard fan, my god I miss Corgans solos. Let's just sit back and appreciate this maddley dark rock and roll solo by one of the greatest. I'm so sad I never had the opportunity to see them live.

[@lastfewtokes]

Matt Walker's performance on this song is fucking amazing! Ive watched videos of them performing with Jimmy behind the kit and he doesn't do the song justice like Matt did. Awesome performance.

[@thesmodieman6526]

agreed... Jimmy I think is a little too jazzy for this lumbering power song... Walker kills this

[@snorgisborg2]

Pretty amazing. Can't believe i'm hearing it for the first time now. Kinda reminds me of the band failure.

[@dude1305]

I cannot possibly believe I am the age that I am, and yet I have only just this year discovered this song, and only just today this performance. What a fucking STATEMENT.

[@crocoman776]

Outrageously good.

[@lucianaquiroga4405]

Their power...my universe, always love their power

[@juju5568]

Billy, did join new order for a brief period. Get Ready album. He should of replaced Bernard Sumner's on vocals 👏🤣

[@heavy671]

master piece

[@GOODJMR]

Greatest band of the 90s. Absolute genius Billy & his support were great behind him. ❤

[@mekroon]

unbelievable performance. SP goosebumps guaranteed :)

[@garrethboland5646]

Walker is incredible and deserves all the credit but..... you cannot replace Jimmy's dynamics and jazziness when he plays live

[@OrcsBR]

After 10 years without hearing this, it felt like a punch in the stomach, how much awesomeness!!!

[@NotoriousNME]

I quoted this song for my senior yearbook quote in 1998.

[@starwinksbackfromtheskypit6790]

Same!

[@JamieLibrarian]

I would have fell in love lol

[@MrTitanTopper]

Fucking A…that was INCREDIBLE!!

[@8minecrafter8]

That was the most badass thing that ever happened.

[@thomasramquist645]

Omg....masterpiece

[@gregorylanthorne7889]

The ending is EPIC

[@royaloakdetroitmi]

Born 1970, lost how awesome SP was… listened to “Soma” live for 2 whole shifts. Monday this is the shit!!

[@brian-jv1nw]

Never gets old. Best song

[@AlexXanderMarketing]

First heard this song live at a Pumpkins show in the Cow Palace in SF in 1996 and was blown away. Absolutely unforgettable. The whole set was amazing, but Aeroplane stole the show.

[@jpflueg0413]

One of my all time favorite Smashing Pumpkins clips. The sound is amazing from all members!

[@COLTRONNN]

that solo straight from the heavens. perfection. haunting

[@Torthrodhel]

Ahh. Audience timekeeping. Best in the universe. :P

[@-__._-..-_AQ-17]

Whoa! As a massive smashing pumpkins fan how have I never heard this song?!

[@kymberlishea2036]

Lullaby For Wayne same here

[@zeroxyu5023]

Is your name Lullaby For Wayne cuz of the Weezer song?

[@richardmaggio1979]

Box set “Aeroplane Flies High”. Awesome B-sides to their popular Mellon Collie hits.

[@-__._-..-_AQ-17]

SwiftShot yeah plus my middle name is Wayne!

[@qnnikqs]

@@-__._-..-_AQ-17ayyyyyy =w=

[@8minecrafter8]

jesus christ. that was brutality

[@antonspina8001]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.stupendo...

[@andrewdyke5561]

This show is insanely good and one of the best on KZbin

[@maximpavlov5379]

mind blowing, why haven't I heard this live performance before? ! Yay!

[@silverfck]

the sound of their guitars and drum is so crisp on this performance!! so incredible, sp is one of the only bands ive seen that sound exactly like their songs or even better when performing live

[@BlueHopi144]

Without Jimmy , its still missing something : A Fucking Drumming Monster behind .

[@alexmalch]

We meet again

[@silverfck]

@@alexmalch LOL HI

[@leob4403]

Yes but this is a rare performance, billy does not put nearly this much fury and energy into his live shows anymore

[@silverfck]

@@leob4403 not rare, billy puts his all into all his performances, things stopped being like that after zeitgeist though

[@jgr266]

I hope they play this on their reunion tour!!!

[@ronaldolaquidara64]

Yeah wish they did but they only play the hits and most popular songs A mainstream fan doesn't know this song as well as many others like methusela so yeah

[@severisalmi2927]

Billy said they are considering to play this song this summer in Europe. Also Gossamer is on shortlist.

[@angelom.7892]

They did. Fucking mind blowing

[@RichardEBurchSr.]

Awesome song. One of my favorites.

[@thetechwookie]

This is my Freebird. Thank you WPC.

[@adriansantiago7793]

Literally their best song ever

[@samverhey4551]

I found this song on on the 33 LP, and it's rocked my world forever since. Still tingles me when I bust it out... and at nearly 9mins long

[@ryanguertin8028]

This reminds me of what drew me in to them years before this. Thank you for sharing this performance.

[@elcross77]

So dark yet so beautiful

[@peterjosvai9804]

I'm listening to this "looped".. totally amazed... thank you for uploading

[@natefroggg]

This was the first song my 11yo and I learned to play together. 😊

[@sandywarhead8012]

Holy geeze! Fml this is soooo good!

[@blinky6667]

Amazing performance. some say no great artists wil ever go to france again until french people learn to clap (somewhat) in time.

[@dontwantachannelthisisagoo3135]

So powerful, even without Jimmy.

[@CSCRECORDSBC]

yeah, matt walker is not too shabby on a drum kit either. they had to take a great drummer for filling Jimmy's shoes. Plus, when he joined, he didn't have that much time to learn the songs. yet he did an excellent job.

[@viktorlevterov1823]

Jimmy is the only thing missing ,in order for this performance to be considered perfect ,imo.

[@cantyouhearmeknocking1961]

Because,,,, Billy.....

[@davegsux]

Jimmy doesn't play bass

[@JamesWilson01]

Matt Walker's playing was great. Best Jimmy replacement they ever had.

[@johannsimonot]

J'y étais! Mon premier festival, avec mon groupe préféré à l'époque! Un jour mémorable! Cette B Side est excellente en plus. Merci du post

[@raynefaded]

Insane that Billy kept his time when the audience clapped WAY out of time, but also that they were clapping on the beat... Have to really be dialed in to what you're doing, when the natural instinct is to sync to a beat. Also this goes insanely hard.

[@mirellalastar]

From 7:41 to the end, starting with "Wishing you were real to me," his complaining, angry, yelling voice, combined with the guitars, bass, and drums, grabs me by my throat. It's like all the emotions are finally released after all this build-up. I also like how he lets his body express his feelings too when he sang 7:02 "And what you promised me I hope will set you free." His whole body is falling backward. He's very good at connecting with his audience.

[@bradybodine2295]

This song just feels so heavy for them but god it works so well 6:39 gives me chills every time this song and mayonnaise are tied for best for me!

[@Pheelhype]

I was there. Wish i could still be. Now, i’m 50 and miss this era so much…

[@kbsffan77]

My favorite pumpkins song. The performance at gm palace is the best one yet.

[@pixldimentio3268]

Rola CHINGONSISISISIMA Y EN VIVO (a pesar de los p###s aplausos) SE ESCUCHA A TODA MADRE !!!

[@chaoticallysay2625]

Will or whatever he wants to be called is a pain I love his music 🎵🎶 though SP forever

[@defshrimp]

This may be the heaviest song of all time.

[@Rush1017]

No

[@fluide000]

No, but, still, for me, it is a STONER kind of track

[@GiulioDalleVedove]

the heaviest still XYU, imo

[@kymberlishea2036]

Ode to No one

[@ryline666]

I love when Corgan glares over at D'arcy after she fucks up her part in the beginning haha

[@theNEWguy102]

One of the greatest rock videos/performances ever :)

[@adamukrainetz9272]

Pretty much the best song they did... there are so much more though. Hard to pick. I just wish they would go back to this sound. The new stuff just hurts to listen to.