Yungblud and The Smashing Pumpkins Release New Recording of Grammy Nominated Song "Zombie"
 | Mon, January 5, 2026 at 9:40 AM |
YUNGBLUD makes history alongside two-time GRAMMY award-winning iconic rock band The Smashing Pumpkins on a groundbreaking, re-imagined version of his GRAMMY -nominated Best Rock Song "Zombie," produced by Matt Schwartz and Billy Corgan, and marking the first time in their storied career that the band have featured on another artist's recording. Originally released to widespread acclaim, "Zombie" stands as Yungblud's fastest-streaming solo single of his career with over 100 million streams to date. Listen HERE.
Yungblud first crossed paths with Billy Corgan in Birmingham last July during Black Sabbath's farewell concert, Back To The Beginning, where both artists took part in tributes honoring Ozzy Osbourne. Their connection, however, dates back further - with Corgan first discovering Yungblud through a live performance video and immediately recognizing his raw potential and powerful voice. In a 2023 interview with Allison Hagendorf, Corgan spoke openly about Yungblud's trajectory, noting, "I can tell where he's going, and if I'm right, we'll be talking about him for the next 50 years." That belief - echoed more recently on Corgan's podcast The Magnificent Ones (LISTEN), where he likened Yungblud's evolution to that of Elton John- deeply resonated with Yungblud, which helped lead him to create the rock album he had long envisioned. Coming full circle, their eventual meeting in Birmingham led to Yungblud inviting Corgan to collaborate - giving rise to this new iteration of "Zombie," with The Smashing Pumpkins now featuring on a song that Corgan had indirectly inspired years earlier.
Accompanied with an official music video, directed by Charlie Sarsfield, starring Yungblud and The Smashing Pumpkins, "Zombie" kicks off the new year in the best possible way, ahead of Yungblud's highly anticipated sold-out North American tour which starts this spring on May 1. The song has continued to gain momentum at radio, reaching No. 9 at Alternative - his third career Top 10 at the format and his highest-charting single there in three years - with more than 15,000 spins across all formats.
This latest incarnation of "Zombie" follows a landmark 2025, which saw the British rockstar blast to the top of the charts and into the hearts of rock fans around the world following the release of his GRAMMY nominated Best Rock Album IDOLS [LISTEN], a sold-out world tour, and an emotional live tribute to his beloved friend Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, which also earned himGRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Performance [Watch HERE].
Showing no signs of slowing down, Yungblud continues to bridge the generations of rock, collaborating with some of the world's most revered and respected artists who have influenced him over the years.
Speaking on the collaboration, Yungblud shares: "Siamese Dream was an album that was there for me more than I could ever explain when I was growing so to be making music with the band that created it is really quite hard to comprehend. Billy has always been such a massive inspiration to me but more recently a huge mentor of mine. His outlook on the importance of truth in art is something that I've always held close to my heart.
'Zombie' is the most important song of IDOLS to me. It's deeply personal and it was heavily influenced by The Smashing Pumpkins' ability to mix emotion, cinema and heavy guitars. I sent Billy an email, asking if he would re-imagine this song with me and when he agreed to it, it was a dream come true. To watch one of my idols work on something that I had written was one of the greatest honours of my life. I love that this new version of 'Zombie' is heavier, it has Billy Corgan's iconic guitar sound, it has more urgency and it rips my heart out. I'm so proud of it."
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The Smashing Pumpkins founder and front-man, Billy Corgan adds, "Yungblud's star shines bright, so it's been great fun to lend our zig-zag voice to his 'Zombie' which he's said was inspired by one of our own. Hence the encouragement that we make this rendition as personal as possible and I'm proud to say we've done that; if only to honor him in return."
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