The Smashing Pumpkins [ tickets ], reunited with original drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, have set a tentative release target of February, 2000 for their follow-up to 1998's Adore. According to a press release issued by the band's record label, Virgin Records, work is continuing in a Chicago studio on the album.

The as-yet-untitled work represents the final album due to Virgin under renegotiated terms in the Pumpkins' recording deal, which they won in March of 1998 after seeking protection under a California statute limiting personal service contracts to seven years. Beck is currently leveraging the same law to force the hand of Geffen Records in renegotiating his contract.

The statute, known as California Labor Code section 2855, was originally drafted to help movie actors in the 40's escape from long-term deals with movie studios. It has never been tested in the courts with a recording contract, largely because most labels fear that a win on behalf of an artist could establish a precedent that could make many recording acts free agents overnight, gutting the record industry of most of their major talent.

To date, Don Henley, Metallica, Luther Vandross and the Smashing Pumpkins have all won label concessions simply by threatening to defend themselves with the law. In the Pumpkins' case, Virgin trimmed their album commitments from three albums after Adore to one and agreed to a higher royalty rate for the band, according to published reports at the time. In lieu of new studio albums, Virgin retained the right to release two albums of live or hits collections following the next Pumpkins release.

The return of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin earleir this year followed a three-year separation prompted by Chamberlin's drug problems, which spilled over into after-show partying which ultimately claimed the life of touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in the middle of the Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness tour in 1996.

During Chamberlin's absence, the band worked with a number of drummers, most recently touring extensively with studio ace Kenny Aronoff, formerly of John Mellencamp's band.

The new album is being produced by Flood, who worked on the Melon Collie album and has worked with U2, Nine Inch Nails, P.J. Harvey and Depeche Mode.