Smashing Pumpkins Wins Big Alternative Rock Quartet Hauls In 7 Mtv Video Music Awards

Chicago’s alternative rockers Smashing Pumpkins got some rare uplifting news Wednesday when the band swept the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards, grabbing seven statuettes, including Best Video of the Year for “Tonight, Tonight.”

The quartet, which fired its longtime drummer in June after a backup musician died of a heroin overdose while on tour with the band, also won for Best Alternative Music Video for the song “1979.”

The video clip for “Tonight, Tonight,” a track from the group’s multimillion-selling double CD, “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” also received nods for Best Direction in a Video, Best Special Effects in a Video, Best Art Direction in a Video, Best Cinematography in a Video and Breakthrough Video.

Rapper Coolio took home three MTV Video Music awards, including Best Rap Video for “Gangsta’s Paradise” from the film “Dangerous Minds.”

He also won Best Dance Video for “1,2,3,4 (Sumpin’ New),” and Best Video From a Film for “Gangsta’s Paradise.”

Chart-topper Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” also copped three awards, including Best Female Video, Best New Artist in a Video, and Best Editing in a Video.

The 13th annual awards ceremony was broadcast Wednesday from New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Eighteen statuettes were handed out.

Most acts received single awards.

Silver Lake bard Beck took home the Best Male Video award for “Where It’s At.”

Foo Fighters, the band led by ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, won the Best Group Video statuette for “Big Me.”

In the Best Hard Rock Video race, Metallica won for “Until It Sleeps.”

The Fugees got the Best R&B Video nod with “Killing Me Softly.”

And as for Best Choreography in a Video, Bjork won for “It’s Oh So Quiet.”