Billy Corgan on Misunderstandings in Rock
Billy Corgan stated that, in his view, the Smashing Pumpkins are “one of the most incorrectly understood groups in the history of rock -N -roll” – see why below.
Corgan appeared in a recent episode of the Joe Rogan podcast to discuss various topics, including the music of his band. During their conversation, the frontman of the Smashing Pumpkins addressed bands like Nickelback and Creed, which have garnered new support after years of “hatred”.
“You will see that Nickelback and Creed are going to do huge business… They survived the ‘hatred’, and now the inevitable moment of ‘It was really good’ will come… They wrote many wonderful songs,” Corgan explained.
Furthermore, Corgan expressed his belief that the Smashing Pumpkins will gain more appreciation from the music scene over time: “It seems like I feel for my musical life. Time will tell my story much better than I can.”
Later in the discussion, Corgan added: “We are probably one of the most incorrectly understood groups in the history of rock -N -roll. It may sound like a bold statement, but it is quite accurate.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oft_piztrhu
Reflections on Fame and Perception
He elaborated: “I believe this is largely related to the issues of Gen X, and it stems from the image I projected in the media when I was young, playing a sort of playful game—like my own version of Andy Kaufman or Bob Zmud. I found it amusing and thought, ‘I’m just going to treat it as a toy because it’s pretty funny.’”
“I didn’t realize that pop culture would attract individuals eager to seek solace on a public stage. Most people who seek fame want to embrace the glamorous parts of it. I was drawn to the more challenging aspect: ‘Okay, I’ll set myself on fire and see what happens,’ or ‘I’ll set you on fire, and let’s see what happens.’”
Corgan continued: “It seemed to resonate in the 90s when everyone was moving and grooving. Then came Napster, the music industry underwent shifts, and before you know it, you’re 40, carrying the flag for a generation that doesn’t even know who you are.”
When asked how he navigates this, Corgan stated: “The simple version is that I had many top people in the industry tell me one-on-one: just give them what they want. Your life will be much better, and you’ll make more money.” His response was, “I’m not interested in that. I’m here because I’m a misfit, and I won’t change for anything.”
- Read more: Billy Corgan on his new podcast “Magnificent Others”: “I want to celebrate people in culture who are misunderstood”
Recently, Corgan was announced as one of the performers for the final star-studded Black Sabbath show, set to take place in Birmingham on July 5.
According to reports, Sharon Osbourne informed NME that Corgan will share the stage with drummer Danny Carey and Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine. They will join a vast lineup of rock royalty performing that night, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Grammy winners Gojira, and many more.
The Smashing Pumpkins are scheduled to play a significant set at Gunnersbury Park in West London later this summer on August 10. They will be joined by Anathema and White Skunk as special guests.
Additionally, Billy Corgan and his band will be in London and have announced details for three more shows in the UK this summer. These include a stop in Halifax on August 12 as part of the “Live in Hall” tour and another in Scarborough the following night.
Smashing PumpKins 2025 Tour Dates in the UK:
AUGUST
10 – London, Gunnersbury Park
12 – Halifax, TK Maxx presents Live in the PEEE Hall
13 – Scarborough, TK Maxx presents the open-air theater
14 – Colchester, Colchester Castle Summer series
Other performers at Gunnersbury Park this summer include Martin Garrix, who will deliver his largest UK show and first London headline in over half a decade on August 16, along with Khruangbin. PAWSA has also been confirmed for Gunnersbury Park 2025, alongside The Libertines, Supergrass, Soft Play, Hak Baker, and Lambrini Girls.
The 2024 lineup features headliners like PJ Harvey, Korn, Peggy Gou, and Tom Grennan.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/billy-corgan-thinks-smashing-pumpkins-are-one-of-the-most-misunderstood-bands-in-the-history-of-rock-n-roll-3843962?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=billy-corgan-thinks-smashing-pumpkins-are-one-of-the-most-misunderstood-bands-in-the-history-of-rock-n-roll
