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Today in 1998, More Than 100,000 Fans Gathered in Minneapolis for a Free Show on Beloved Indie Band’s Chaotic Tour

Everyone showed up for The Smashing Pumpkins in downtown Minneapolis, even a convicted murderer, allegedly.

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On July 17, 1998, the Smashing Pumpkins rolled into Minneapolis on tour supporting their recent album Adore. Roughly 125,000 fans flooded downtown Minneapolis for the free show on Block E, making it the biggest concert crowd in the city’s history. Frontman Billy Corgan has often estimated the crowd was closer to 200,000. Either way, the show made Minneapolis history.

According to a 2022 retrospective from FOX9 out of Minneapolis, the downtown block where the Smashing Pumpkins took the stage is now home to a Mayo Clinic and a hotel. But more than 20 years ago, it was the site of the Hennepin Avenue Block Party, a free concert in the heart of downtown. The Smashing Pumpkins were headlining and put on an unbelievable show during an allegedly turbulent tour.

Although recollections are mixed about the chaos of the Adore tour. Some say the band was at the height of its career. But........

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