About Zwan

Zwan were a short-lived "indie supergroup" that formed in 2001 and disbanded in 2003. Formed by The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan (guitar/vocals), the band featured Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle) on bass, Jimmy Chamberlin (also of the Smashing Pumpkins) on drums, and David Pajo (Slint/Tortoise/Papa M) and Matt Sweeney (Chavez) on guitar with Corgan. The band's only album, Mary Star of the Sea, was likened by critics to The Smashing Pumpkins ultra-successful Siamese Dream, but was laden with a notable positivity that was not to be found in The Smashing Pumpkins. The band heavily toured in its short tenure, with different material according to the different eras. The first period, which spans from the formation of the band to the inclusion of Paz Lechantin to the lineup, featured electric songs, some of which were abandoned prior to the album, in part because Billy Corgan thought they were too much Smashing Pumpkins like. Among the songs, The Empty Sea, Glorious or Spilled Milk and God's Gonna Set This World on Fire, which they still played in some concerts in other incarnation of Zwan. Zwan had two incarnations: the true poets of Zwan (or simply Zwan) and [Djali]Zwan. [Djali]Zwan, an acoustic incarnation, with an almost completely different set of songs. These traditional inspired songs were to be played live to be recorded on a DVD, and a new album in 2003. Among these songs, one can single out El-a-noy, which, like Riverview (the incarnation status of which is not completely clear, for it was only played live with Zwan) which deal with Corgan's hometown Chicago. Indeed, in an attempt to revive the aborted DVD project, he played some Chicago songs concerts in the early days of his solo career, for a DVD which to this day has not come out. El-a-noy, Riverview and Friends as Lovers were played during these sessions.