British singer Yungblud, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, has officially teamed up with the iconic rock band The Smashing Pumpkins for a darker, reimagined version of his song “Zombie.” The collaboration and its accompanying music video were announced on Thursday, January 1st, with a worldwide release scheduled for midnight on Friday, January 2nd.

Yungblud shared the exciting news through an Instagram post, featuring black-and-white photos of himself alongside Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and other band members. One snapshot showed him rocking out with Corgan, likely a still from the forthcoming music video. He also gave fans a sneak peek of the collaboration via his Instagram Stories, building anticipation for the release.

The inspiration behind this unique partnership stems from Yungblud's deep admiration for The Smashing Pumpkins. In an interview with Loudwire, he revealed that while crafting “Zombie” for his fourth studio album, *Idols*, he was significantly influenced by their classic album *Siamese Dream*. Yungblud noted, “It was really the sadness and the melancholic emotion mixed with the aggression of Billy’s f—king guitars … Billy, as a songwriter, was really at the forefront of my inspiration when I was making this album.”

Yungblud further explained that the initial version of “Zombie” was heavier, but he consciously toned it down for the album to avoid sounding too similar to the Pumpkins. However, he always envisioned a more intense rendition. Driven by this desire, he reached out to Billy Corgan, expressing his wish for the track to “dig in harder” and embody a “Jekyll and Hyde element” – balancing optimism with a darker, more pessimistic, and aggressive tone. Within just ten days of this conversation, Yungblud flew to Chicago, the Smashing Pumpkins’ hometown, to record the track and film its music video.

“Zombie” itself is a notable track, earning a nomination for Best Rock Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Yungblud’s album, *Idols*, which features the original song, is also nominated for Best Rock Album. Released in June, *Idols* topped the U.K. Albums Chart and reached No. 15 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart.

This collaboration is not Yungblud’s first venture with a renowned rock act. In September, he released “My Only Angel” with Aerosmith, a track that debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. This single was part of a five-song collaborative EP titled *One More Time*, which dropped in late November, further showcasing Yungblud’s versatility and connections within the rock music world.