Smashing Pumpkins closed the Main Stage at Carling Weekend: Reading tonight (August 26).

Taking to the stage at 10pm, the Chicago band made their way through 90 minutes of material old and new.

The full moon was amplified against a cloudless sky as they tore through favourites including 'Tonight, Tonight', '1979' and 'Today'.

Midway through the set stage cameras panned the crowd, which included a scantily clad young woman, about whom Corgan commented "There's something about a girl who's willing to take her top off so quickly."

"American girls are sluts too," he added. "See - isn't it great to be alternative - You can say all those things."

Corgan then launched into a solo acoustic version of '1979'.

"We're very humbled to be back on this stage," Corgan concluded at the end of the show "Yes, miracles can happen."