Billy Corgan--who last year pulled the plug on his alt-rock act Smashing Pumpkins--is hitting the California club circuit semi-incognito for a handful of dates with his new outfit, Zwan. In addition to Corgan, the group's lineup also includes former Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain.

Zwan's mostly barren website lists the band's four members by first name only: Billy (vocals), Jimmy (drums), Matt (guitar) and Skullfisher (bass). However, a spokesperson for the group confirmed on Thursday (11/1) that former Smashing Pumpkins bandmates Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain are the Billy and Jimmy in question. Matt Sweeney, formerly of the bands Chavez and Skunk, is the group's guitarist, but the identity of bassist Skullfisher is not known, according to the spokesperson.

Zwan has scheduled a total of four November dates at California clubs that hold between 500 and 800 people. Details appear in the itinerary below.

In May 2000, while in the midst of Smashing Pumpkins' tour in support of that year's "MACHINA/the machines of God" (Virgin), Corgan announced that the group would disband at the end of that year. The quartet played its final show at a club in its hometown of Chicago last December.

A Smashing Pumpkins "Greatest Hits'' album and DVD is due in stores on Nov. 20. A limited edition of the album will include a second CD titled "Judas O Riley" that will contain b-sides and rare tracks.

Corgan recently collaborated with New Order on one track on the band's recently released album "Get Ready'' (Warner Bros.) and also played guitar for the group at four dates on Moby's recent Area: One Festival.

According to a recent Virgin Records press release, Corgan is currently "rehearsing and recording with his new band." The label did not specify if Zwan is the new band being referred to.

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