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

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

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.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"