Hear The Smashing Pumpkins’ New ‘Hunger Games’ Song ‘Black Stars’
The song marks the band’s first collaboration with producer Butch Vig since 1993’s ‘Siamese Dream.’
The Smashing Pumpkins have released “Black Stars,” their contribution to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (The Album), alongside a music video. The recording reunites the band with producer Butch Vig for their first collaboration since 1993’s Siamese Dream. The soundtrack arrives November 13 via MCA, ahead of the film’s theatrical release on November 20, 2026.
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“Black Stars” originated during a period when frontman Billy Corgan was working on a solo album. After the Pumpkins received an invitation to contribute an original song to the project, Corgan brought in Vig to help choose material that would suit the world of The Hunger Games. The band recorded the track at Chaplin Studios in Los Angeles, with additional recording in Chicago.
The soundtrack is executive produced by Dave Cobb, whose credits include work with Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson. It brings together 29 artists across genres, with previously unreleased music created specifically for the world of Sunrise on the Reaping and exclusive to the album. The songs draw inspiration from the story and characters of Panem. “Black Stars” appears as track 15 on the 29-track collection, which also includes Noah Kahan’s “Draw You Out” and arena mixes of “Ruthless,” “Survive,” and “Doing The Best That I Can.”
The Pumpkins have also brought “Black Stars” into their live set on The Rats in a Cage Tour, currently visiting arenas across North America. The run follows the band’s return to their hometown of Chicago to headline Lollapalooza earlier in 2026.
The collaboration with Vig connects the new recording to a formative period in the band’s catalog. Siamese Dream, their second album, followed 1991’s Gish and preceded 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. More recently, the Pumpkins released ATUM in 2023 and Aghori Mhori Mei in 2024, the latter featuring original members Corgan, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, and guitarist James Iha.
