The Smashing Pumpkins really threw their new touring guitarist into the fire during the kickoff of their The World Is a Vampire - Europe Summer 2024 Tour in Birmingham, UK.

Kiki Wong, the Instagram darling who beat out 10,000 other would be shredders as the third axe alongside Billy Corgan and James Iha, not only had to learn a variety of jams from the vast and ever-growing Pumpkins library, but the band also covered the U2 rocker "Zoo Station" from Actung Baby.

Not only was it no problemo for the new mom, but she fit right in with her skin tight leather pants and cropped top.

The Pumpkins are touring Europe with Weezer for their first half dozen gigs across the pond.

Opening night was Friday, June 7 and the good people of Birmingham got their first glimpse of Kiki on stage right of the Utilita Arena.

The band marched out with little fanfare, just an instrumental tape of the title track of Atum. But then they kicked in to rocking Everlasting Gaze from MACHINA/the machines of God.

Next came "Doomsday Clock," a wall-of-sound rocker that truly benefits from the three guitar attack, which lead into the U2 cover.

Corgan and Bono have an excellent relationship.

Billy was once invited to the U2 star's home around 2000 when the Irish legends were putting together the beginnings of what would be All That You Can't Leave Behind. Late one night Bono asked Billy if he could play him some demos but because it was so late he didn't want to wake up anyone in the home, so the two rockers went outside in the cold and listened in Bono's car stereo.

One of the songs was "Beautiful Day."

"[Bono goes, ‘Tell me honestly what you think,’" Corgan told Apple Music. "I’m like, ‘You really want me to give you my opinion?’… And I told him what I thought.”

To Corgan's surprise, "they actually used my advice! He let me know later, ‘Hey, we used your advice.’”

Friday was the first time the Pumpkins ever covered that U2 hit. James and Billy covered another U2 tune, "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" on back-to-back nights at the 1999 Bridge Concerts.

In Birmingham, Billy et al had plenty of its own music to play, some for the first time. "That Which Animates the Spirit" and "Springtimes" from the ATUM triple album got their live debuts.

That means 10 of the 33 songs of the current album have been performed live. Thus many more live debuts could happen as the tour rolls on.

There was also "Birch Grove" from 2020's CYR, which Billy played solo on the Howard Stern Show during lockdown. Friday he finally got to play it with the full band.

Fans of deep cuts were also satisfied in Birmingham when the band brought out "Thru the Eyes of Ruby," from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.

How did Kiki like her first gig with the band?

Shockingly, she loved it.

"What an absolute mind-blowing experience," she wrote on her IG. "I am so overwhelmed with excitement. It was such an honor to play my first arena on guitar with such an incredible group of musicians. Someone pinch me, actually don’t because I want to keep living this dream."

The Smashing Pumpkins are packing them in as they tour Europe. About half of their gigs are already sold out so get your tickets via their website while you can.

Depending where you see them they're playing with Weezer or Tom Morello or Interpol or someone equally cool, so get their early.