2013.01.30

Article by: SPfreaks

Article by Geo Folkers

Considered by many to be one of the best albums ever made, The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream was released on July 27, 1993 on Virgin Records. The album has sold over 6 million copies worldwide and continues to influence many bands and dreamers alike.

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During 1995-1996, a limited edition Siamese Dream wooden box appeared on the market. The box was limited to 1000 copies and was sold at Tower Records in Chicago, amongst other record shops. The item was a big hit, with eBay auctions routinely selling in the $400 range; for hard core collectors it was a “must have”.

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In the French booklet, Chroniques d’Un Monument, even a Virgin Records subsidiary, Delabel, considers the box an official US release! This incorrect categorization is shown in the picture above.

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Despite the craze, there were questions surrounding its authenticity. The box contained an official copy of either the US or Netherlands CD. It also housed an official Siamese Dream 4 or 20 page booklet; however, there were reports of the box being sold without the CD and booklet. It was rumored to have stamped, reproduction autographs of the band as well, but those have never surfaced. Questions about different colored hardware and a dubious barcode were also red flags.

Not knowing any other resource to find an answer, I decided to ask the only person I thought might know something about this: Mr. William Patrick Corgan. He said he had seen the Siamese Dream box years ago at a record store and said, “It’s definitely a bootleg.”

So there you have it! Case closed! And if there should remain any doubt, Billy Corgan himself has signed my copy below to put an end to any controversy.

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Arthur
Admin

Hilariously well done, Geo! 🙂

milan
Member

Nice!

Miles Tippett
Guest
Miles Tippett

I just watched that this morning on youtube when you asked him!

Menrad
Guest

I had Billy sign mine in Paris a while ago (he was doing a reading of a book he co-wrote with french writer Claire Fercak in 2010), and he also said he had nothing to do with this product. He was kind enough to sign it anyway. 🙂
This is a nice crafted bootleg, but I remember when I received it I thought its box didn’t match the product itself, and I started to doubt it was official (before that, I’d always thought it was).