Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and clothing designer Chloé Mendel know that they could’ve very
easily been at the Independence Day parade this year in Highland Park — the Illinois community where
they live and operate the tea house Madame Zuzu’s, and where dozens of people were injured and
seven killed in a horrific July shooting. “The only reason we weren’t there was that [Chloe] was on a plane,
Still, the two long-time partners also immediately knew they wanted to do something to benefit the victims
of the attack, many of whom they knew or were connected to in some way. They ended up deciding to put
on the Together and Together Again benefit concert at Madame Zuzu’s, which they’ll be livestreaming for
free on Wednesday night (July 27) — while encouraging viewers to donate, with all proceeds going
to the Highland Park Community Foundation and specifically, its July 4th Highland Park Shooting Response Fund
“We felt helpless, right? We knew there were so many people hurting,” Mendel says. “And so we knew we had
to do something. And it was, ‘What can we do in a quick turnaround?’ And I think it was like, two days
later, we decided we were gonna do this.” The event will of course feature a performance from the alt-rock
legend Corgan — as well as his Pumpkins bandmate, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin — but will also include a
variety of special guests, including electronic duo Bob Moses, jazz saxophonist Frank Catalano, classical group
The Lincoln Trio, singer-songwriter Billy Swan (and daughter Sierra) and alt-rock veteran Perry Farrell,
whose Jane’s Addiction will be heading out with the Pumpkins on the Spirits on Fire tour starting in October.