Yungblud and Billy Corgan Release Live Zombie Recording From Chicago Riviera Theatre
Released on October 8, 2026, by Capitol Records and Locomotion Recordings, a 4-minute and 32-second live recording captures Yungblud and Billy Corgan performing “Zombie” together at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. The audio arrives as a two-track single alongside a studio version of the track credited to the same duo, turning an intimate club moment into an official release.
The collaboration highlights a meeting between Yungblud and the leader of The Smashing Pumpkins.
The Riviera Theatre Stage Collaboration in Chicago
Billy Corgan joined Yungblud on stage after the first two tracks of a nine-song set at the Riviera Theatre, located in Corgan’s hometown of Chicago. The two artists shared verses and harmonized on the chorus while Corgan played guitar alongside a backing band that had already performed “Hello Heaven, Hello” and “The Funeral.”
The concert took place on Thursday, July 30, 2026, serving as an intimate stop on the Idols World Tour. The performance preceded the artists’ scheduled appearances at Lollapalooza in Grant Park the following day. Later in the same set, Yungblud performed Black Sabbath’s ballad “Changes,” a song he has played since participating in an Ozzy Osbourne tribute.
Studio Partnership and Production Behind Zombie
The partnership extends beyond a single stage appearance. Corgan coproduced a heavier version of “Zombie” with Matt Schwartz, enlisting The Smashing Pumpkins to contribute to the track. Press materials described the collaboration as the first recording of another artist to which the group had contributed.
Yungblud stated that he drew inspiration from the Smashing Pumpkins album Siamese Dream while writing the song. Corgan acknowledged the connection, stating, Yungblud is a star that shines bright; so it was a real pleasure to bring our zig-zagging voice to his “Zombie,” which he said was inspired by one of our tracks.
Charlie Sarsfield directed the music video for the studio version, shooting the visual in a snow-covered cemetery. The official live video from the Riviera Theatre performance debuted on the YUNGBLUDVEVO YouTube channel alongside the audio release.
Origins at the Black Sabbath Tribute and Subsequent Success
The collaboration began backstage at Back to the Beginning, Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham, where both artists participated in tributes to Ozzy Osbourne. Following the event, Yungblud initiated the project by reaching out directly. I sent an email to Billy asking if he would agree to reinvent this song with me,
Yungblud said following the release of the studio version. Seeing one of my idols work on a piece I had written was one of the greatest honors of my life.
Yungblud described “Zombie” as the most important track on IDOLS in his eyes. The single achieved rapid commercial milestones, surpassing 100 million streams and becoming the fastest-reaching million-stream solo single of his career at the time of its announcement.
The song earned a nomination for Best Rock Song at the 68th Grammy Awards, a category won by Nine Inch Nails for “As Alive As You Need Me To Be.” During the same Grammy ceremony, Yungblud’s live version of “Changes”—recorded at Villa Park with Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, and II—won Best Rock Performance, while his album Idols lost the Best Rock Album category to Turnstile’s Never Enough.
Corgan’s endorsement of Yungblud predates the collaboration. In a 2023 interview, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman remarked, I see where he’s going, and if I’m right, we’ll be talking about him for the next 50 years.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Release
When was the live version of Zombie released?
Capitol Records and Locomotion Recordings released “Zombie (Live from the Riviera Theatre)” on October 8, 2026, accompanied by a video on the YUNGBLUDVEVO channel.
Where did Yungblud and Billy Corgan first perform the track live?
The duo performed the song live on July 30, 2026, at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago during a stop on the Idols World Tour, the night before their scheduled appearances at Lollapalooza.
Which musicians joined Yungblud for the live performance of Changes?
The live version of “Changes” featured Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, and II, and was recorded at Villa Park.
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