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The $800,000 Smashing Pumpkins Music Video ‘Accident’ That Billy Corgan Kept in (And We Didn’t Even Notice)

Would anyone have known the fourth wall break in the “Ava Adore” music video wasn’t intentional if Billy Corgan hadn’t said something?

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The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1998 album Adore was a striking deviation from their previous three releases. Coming off the back of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, a lot was riding on the band’s next project. But the process was fraught with personal problems within the band, pushing everyone to their limit creatively and emotionally. Then, upon release, it divided the fan base despite praise from critics.

Still, it remains a pivotal entry in the Smashing Pumpkins’ history. The lead single, “Ava Adore”, notably came with an elaborate music video. It was filmed in a single take, which required an expensive set design, with the whole thing costing roughly $800,000. But, according to Billy Corgan, a mistake occurred during filming that he left in the final video.

“I think we built somewhere between 10 to 12 sets, so think of it like a big ‘U’ [shape],” Corgan said........

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