During a recent concert, Smashing Pumpkins performed a cover of the opening song of U2‘s Achtung Baby, “Zoo Station.”
On June 8, Smashing Pumpkins played at the O2 Arena in London, England. In the third slot of their set, they performed the cover.
Despite being in a different key, the guitar riff is instantly recognizable. Lead singer Billy Corgan's vocals aren't as distorted as Bono's on the original song. But he sings the iconic lyrics.
A unique cover in its own right, Smashing Pumpkins did a great job keeping U2's spirit alive in their cover while adding their own spin. As the song reached its crescendo, the cover began straying away from the original song. A guitar solo is performed as the drums slowly build back up.
The band is about to perform a show at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, the home of U2. Perhaps they will play “Zoo Station” again or another song from the band.
Smashing Pumpkins have been together since 1988, around the time U2 gained popularity for The Joshua Tree. They were together until 2000. After a six-year hiatus, the group reformed and has been together. Billy Corgan, James Iha, and Jimmy Chamberlin are the current members of the band.
What is “Zoo Station”?
This cover from Smashing Pumpkins came at a fitting time. U2 is fresh off their first-ever concert residency in Las Vegas. They performed 40 shows at the Sphere that were centered around Achtung Baby.
Just like the album, “Zoo Station” opened all 40 concerts. It was one of the show's most breathtaking set pieces as a Church of Light-like visual is projected onto the giant screen.
“Zoo Station” also marked a new era for U2. After the lukewarm reception of Rattle and Hum, the band reinvented themselves. Opening Achtung Baby with “Zoo Station” was a bold move considering how drastically different it sounded from the band's past work. And yet, the risk paid off.
Who are U2?
U2 is one of the biggest rock bands in the world. They first gained notoriety for their first album, Boy, which featured hit songs such as “I Will Follow” and “Out of Control.” Their third album, War, was a politically charged effort that further landed them mainstream attention thanks to songs like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year's Day.”
In 1984, U2 released The Unforgettable Fire. The album enlisted Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois to produce the album. As a result, they laid the groundwork for what was to come on their subsequent two albums, The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum.
The nineties were filled with more U2 success. They released Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop in that decade. The early 2000s brought U2 back to the mainstream spotlight as they released All That You Can't Leave Behind with some of their biggest songs such as “Beautiful Day” and “Elevation.”
Recently, the band has been entrenched in the “Songs of” era. Songs of Innocence kicked off this time of the band's career in 2014. Songs of Experience followed in 2017 with Songs of Surrender coming in 2023. Their 2023 album was a collection of 40 re-recorded songs from their discography.
It was a tie-in to Bono's autobiography, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. Additionally, the band just wrapped up their first concert residency at the Sphere on March 2, 2024, after 40 shows.
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