- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Indio Today
By the People, for the People
Billy Corgan Makes Coachella Debut During sombr's Set
Smashing Pumpkins frontman joins alt-pop artist on stage for '1979' performance
Apr. 12, 2026 at 7:25pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The surprise appearance of rock icon Billy Corgan at Coachella injects a burst of energy and star power into the alt-pop performance.Indio TodayBilly Corgan, the frontman of the iconic rock band Smashing Pumpkins, made his Coachella debut on Saturday by joining alt-pop artist sombr on stage for a rendition of the classic Smashing Pumpkins song '1979'. Corgan took the stage to the opening riff of the song, giving double metal horns, and sang along with sombr while strumming his guitar.
Why it matters
Corgan's surprise appearance at Coachella, one of the world's most prestigious music festivals, is a significant moment for the veteran rocker, who is set to headline Lollapalooza later this year with Smashing Pumpkins. The collaboration with sombr also highlights the continued influence and relevance of Smashing Pumpkins' music among younger generations of artists.
The details
During sombr's set at the Outdoor Theatre, the alt-pop artist introduced Corgan to the crowd, asking 'Coachella, is it cool if I bring some f****** rock royalty on the stage right now?' Corgan then took the stage, and while his mic had some issues at the beginning of the '1979' performance, the problem was eventually fixed and he was able to sing along with sombr.
- Billy Corgan made his Coachella debut on April 11, 2026 during sombr's set at the Outdoor Theatre.
The players
Billy Corgan
The frontman of the iconic rock band Smashing Pumpkins, who is set to headline Lollapalooza 2026 in his hometown of Chicago.
sombr
An alt-pop artist who invited Corgan to join him on stage during his Coachella set.
What they’re saying
“Coachella, is it cool if I bring some f****** rock royalty on the stage right now?”
— sombr, alt-pop artist
What’s next
Corgan will be headlining a festival when The Smashing Pumpkins play Lollapalooza 2026, taking place July 30 to Aug. 2 in his hometown of Chicago.
The takeaway
Billy Corgan's surprise appearance at Coachella demonstrates the continued influence and relevance of Smashing Pumpkins' music, as the veteran rocker collaborates with a younger alt-pop artist to bring the classic '1979' to a new generation of festival-goers.
