Geek U.S.A.

Album: Siamese Dream (1993)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitar World magazine placed this song at #54 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of all time. Interestingly, the solo on the demo version of this song was much longer and more elaborate than the one on the studio version that appears on the Siamese Dream album.

    As intricate and interesting as the solo on this song is, frontman Billy Corgan actually considered dropping it altogether for the studio version of the track. At the time, Corgan felt the song already had too many fluctuations and that a complicated solo wouldn't add much to the dynamics of the song.
  • Siamese Dream producer Butch Vig praised Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain's performance on this song. Vig called it "one of the most amazing drum performances I've ever heard."
  • This song was written by re-working an earlier Smashing Pumpkins cut called "Suicide Kiss." "Suicide Kiss" was eventually released online via the Smashing Pumpkins Record Club in 2011.
  • Live performances of this song appear on the band's 2002 live disc Earphoria, 1994's long-form music video Vieuphoria, and 2001's The Smashing Pumpkins – Greatest Hits Video Collection (1991–2000).
  • The progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me covered this song on their 2006 album The Anatomy Of…

Comments: 1

  • Rapptor from NorwayIn this song the title of the album is used in the lyrics.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.