Billy Corgan talks about smashing pumpkins on Howard Stern Show 6.19.12

[@raffin2040]

This interview was the best interview I ever heard with Billy. Howard got him to go real deep. It would be great if someone would upload the full thing!

[@lastfog]

He can say what he wants about them, and I'll admit Billy always was the driving force behind it all and he's a musical genius, but the band has never been the same since the four of them were together. It might be because his style and ambitions have changed, but he hasn't put out anything close to as great as those first three albums and probably never will. I think he knows that and deep down he's disappointed that it fell apart. But I think there's no one in particular to blame, it was a combination of Billy being a control freak, Jimmy's drug problems and the others wanting to be in the spotlight.

[@JTGemini3]

Just because Billy is being frank and personal about his experiences with his band with Howard, doesn't by default make him an "egomaniacal douche", as I see in a lot of these comments. In contrast, it actually makes him seem more down to earth; I respect his candor and honesty. In my opinion, a self-absorbed rockstar would just sit there and barely succumb to reveal anything truly personal, only superficially plugging whatever his world is at the moment and what he's doing. Billy's earned his stripes and is a true genius and made the Pumpkins. James and D'arcy were jealous, insecure, and ultimately ungrateful. That's basically it in a nutshell.

[@nodahanshin444]

the other people aren't smart enough to get what you say. good comment.

[@dragonborn4045]

agreed. the pumpkins have always been billy corgan's vision that he shares with a group of people. and he is very articulate in what he wants the band to be. i respect that perfectionism and singleminded pursuit of the idea that is the smashing pumpkins. however, not to defend the others, but billy also is also culpable for the old band's breakup. we all know that he was a far better musician that james and d'arcy. however he acted upon it and they, particularly james, got pissed about it. particularly the let it come down argument. james chose to express himself outside of the band, and billy was hurt basically because he wasn't involved.

[@kristopherryan4073]

This is all remarkably true. I am a huge Pumpkins fan, and just as much a fan of Billy. However, if we look back at the height of the band in the 90's, when they put out and were touring in support of Mellon Collie, the band were bombarded with every possible indulgence you can imagine, playing about 200 shows in a single year, and were thrown large sums of money. As a band solely beloning to Billy, it was his responsibility to maintain good morale and sustain a sense of leadersip internally. When Jimmy went off the deep end, and when Darcy confided that the tour was too much, he kept prodding them forward when really, he should have listened to Her to take time off. I do hold Billy accountable for many things that only now in recent interviews he acknowledgeshave resulted in his short sightedness during that period. Had he been more on point as being the leadertype, it could have prevented a lot of things that later happened down the road.

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

Corgan is a hero of mine. I'm not a musician, but I admire genius of all kinds greatly.

[@ballzmahonee5645]

JoJo McJoJo lmao. You have no idea. I am your messiah

[@TeamAlfie]

Turns out he didn't like the 2012 line-up either.

[@standinsilence]

Is there a particular interview somewhere on KZbin where he's slagging them? If so please link it.

[@dead_weight_habits2321]

OK if Jimmy Darcy James didn't matter and Billy is the golden goose why is it not working out for Billy with the "new" Pumpkins? It's a collective effort but media always gos to the front man and that won't change. Chemistry with the originals is what delivered that beautiful sound. I still love the pumpkins either way but its obvious they all had their demons.

[@dfisk79]

It's one thing to meet him as a fan. Of course he's going to be nice to fans. It's another thing to work with him. I work in the entertainment industry. I see the two sides of musicians and actors all the time.

[@matooli]

Corgan's comments regarding not being consulted about Iha's solo album are ridiculous. Even if his suggestions could have improved the record, surely the whole point of Iha recording his own album was that it didn't have anything to do with Corgan!

[@leob4403]

It would probably have been better with Corgans involvement, seeing as Ihas album was really quite boring and average. Iha should be more grateful towards Corgan seeing as he would probably never have gotten a record deal without his Pumpkins fame

[@dragonborn4045]

Leo B but that's missing the point. sure, let it come down may have had stronger songwriting had billy joined in, but the point of james deliberately securing his own record deal without billy's involvement was so he could put out his own music and his own music only after a decade in the pumpkins. now, i don't want to defend james too much, as he is the main reason the original pumpkins stay broken up, but for billy to insist that james was incapable and needed his help during that one specific album puts him at fault and only keeps james from seeking his help even more. i remember billy saying time and time again how it's stupid for the public to latch on to one conception of the pumpkins (that being the hit-generating machine of the siamese dream and mellon collie days) and then not want the band to grow artistically. thus it's hypocritical for billy to say that, then not want james to be free to do his own music.

[@y0sh1100]

John Smith I think what Billy is saying is that the record would have been better with his involvement, and as James friend and bandmate, he wanted him to succeed

[@dragonborn4045]

y0sh1100 personally i think it's very magnanimous for billy to want his bandmates to be personally and artistically successful. however, in the case of james' album, he missed the point entirely, because while i trust he supported the idea of james being successful he didn't support the idea of james being successful alone. i think that james is kind of forcing things by making a point of making the album solely his own, but billy probably should have respected james' decision, because james expressing everything he wanted to express is what billy has been going for his entire career. this is a very sensitive topic that can and does go both ways, and there are argument for and against both sides. i guess it's up to the public to figure out for themselves who they side with.

[@TheWonderfulBlake]

Yeah, what the hell? The whole point of a solo record is that it’s a solo record lol. He wanted to do his own thing, it had nothing to do with Billy. It’s incredibly narcissistic.

[@gretscher]

I like Billy Corgan. Great musican, well spoken, and very smart. I like Iha too.

[@tizza963]

What a great clip, love Billy so much.

[@TheAlibabatree]

Historically, people who speak the whole truth are often considered "egomaniacs". IE: John Lennon, Salvador Dali, etc. I believe Billy fits into that group; an incredibly honest person who happens to also be incredibly talented. It's not his fault that he was a genius, when none of his other bandmates were (besides Jimmy).

[@dummytree]

The thing that never ceased to amaze me about this bit of interview is when Billy is talking about James' first solo album. Well, Billy, maybe James didn't ask for your imput and want your imput because it was his SOLO album ? To think that he, Billy, could make it better is a very arrogant thing to say. I love Billy, but honestly, I think he's burned out. He wrote so many songs over the years. I didn't like Oceania (I preferred some stuff on "Zeitgeist" actually). And he's surrounded by yes men and "yes band members"...

[@austin78993]

Yeah he doesn't get that. He's a control freak. But I get it. Every band has to have the guy that pushes you. In The Beatles it was Paul McCartney. George Harrison was good, but there's recordings of Paul telling him what to play on certain Paul songs. Paul's bassline on Something completely makes the song. So yeah it's easy to get jealous, but guys like Billy and Paul know how to make a song a hit. Billy Corgan is good because he pushes himself. Iha never made it because he didn't have that internal voice saying "Do another take. Do another take. Make it perfect." Billy Corgan has that and, like it or not, you need that. Paul McCarney had that. So if Iha wanted to make a solo album to make a solo album, that's cool. But it sounds like Billy wanted him to be successful in it. Iha might have just wanted it off his chest. Didn't care if it flopped. Billy doesn't think like that. He thinks perfection. Iha probably gave him advice too so he probably took offense to it in saying "Oh I share my work with you and let you critique it, but you hide yours from me?" I used to think Billy was a dick (and he is), but I understand his madness a lot more lately. Billy isn't cocky because he thinks he's some divine gift to earth and songwriting. He's good because he is confrontational and he works hard. He doesn't cry when the label tells them one of his song sucks. He stays in the studio until songs are perfect. That line about Iha being 7 feet away on stage is very true. There's a lot of effort that goes into what he does.

[@projecticeman365]

dummytree friends talk about music together, if my band mate (granted we aren’t famous but even MORE now in my case) but if my own band mate did a solo record and DIDNT SAY A WORD to anyone in my band, I’d be pretty upset too

[@allsystemsgo8678]

@@projecticeman365 Agreed. It's a little weird James doesn't mention it. I don't think it's all that arrogant for a guy who's already several dozen songs, multi platnuim albums to think maybe I could give a few pointers to a guy who's never written a song on his own.

[@maxbarrera5775]

dummytree Oceania was a pretty nice album with a unique sound in my opinion.

[@maicolmallers2999]

At the moment the guy felt that way because there was no way anybody could improve his by-then songs. I'm not saying they're perfect, I'm not saying everyone all around the world likes those songs but every instrument, played key, and drum beat is where they belong. If someone could make a better *version* out of that work then it'd be a cover, not an improvement by changing the songs as they were made. He just said "I could make his songs better" and I bet that would've happened.

[@AmericanSpyFox]

The crazy thing is, james and Darcy were well known. Smashing pumpkins was one of the few bands that everybody knew every members name

[@jadeariellevaughn4695]

@americanspyfox hey spy fox 🦊

[@hymntonight]

Wow, I can't believe in 2012 there is still so much animosity.

[@bundybarron]

If Stern gets his head any further up Corgans butt he may meet Billy in there! Corgan is a genius and I love the pumpkins but come on. I can't believe he said he would have offered to shadow write some of James's solo album. Classic!

[@GabzitoHD]

lmaoo

[@MrFreeGman]

Billy is looking at it from a purely business point of view - how to get the most sales and publicity. He wasn't considering it from the perspective of a guy who wants to do his own thing and be his own man, separate from Corgan and the Pumpkins. On the other hand though, Iha never would have gotten that opportunity if it weren't for the fact that he was riding on Corgan's genius for so long. He didn't seem self-aware enough to realize that he just didn't really earn that opportunity on his own (and the end results prove that). I don't think either of them were in the right.

[@lostalex77]

i disagree. james' solo album was one of the albums of my teens yearsm, and me and my best friend listened to it every day. it's a great album. and james has proven what a great musician he is in his work since the pumpkins, with a perfect circle. James was absolutely a a world class musician when he was with the pumpkins.

[@bloodaonadeline8346]

nobody said james isn’t a good musician even Billy said he’s a good musician he’s just not Billy Corgan.

[@jeffwills9577]

Billy Corgan is a badass and right.

[@mikewong5068]

Fuck their new stuff, they were better in the 90s. Billy wasn't the only songwriter either, James wrote a lot of their stuff to help, so it's no wonder he might've been pissed. Jimmy and D'arcy were always kind of crazy, but in the end they were probably the best band that lasted through 90s.

[@asthmaticpathic]

I've been listening to the pumpkins for about a year and it's upsetting to find out billy has gotten such bad press, etc. He's such a talented guy.

[@LightFromADeadStar]

James Iha deserves more credit billy

[@Tret219]

totally agree, i'm someone that usually doesn't care about that type of thing but james wrote a lot of parts with billy on a lot of their hits i thought billy should've given him way more credit. not saying it was all james but james wrote some key parts on 'soma' 'cherub rock' 'mayonaise' i could go on but you get it lol

[@allsystemsgo8678]

Why? Billy wrote 98% of the songs.

[@chrisothoulos]

Respect the dude making you millions . Golden goose

[@ian7388]

@@allsystemsgo8678 lmaooo James Iha wrote Mayonaise, Soma, and Farewell and Goodnight so he definitely deserves credit. Sorry dude James Iha is underrated as fuck

[@standinsilence]

​@@ian7388He co-wrote them with Billy if Im not mistaking.

[@tobyjaffe270]

Howard big time projecting onto Billy. Howard is thinking about Stuttering John and Jackie Martling with these questions. However, unlike Howard, Billy has shown an ability in recent years to forgive and self reflect.

[@toddlavigne6441]

Bands only last when everyone knows their place and is happy in that place.

[@TheWonderfulBlake]

I wish this full interview was still on youtube

[@TheWonderfulBlake]

Okay, I love Billy as an artist, don't get me wrong, SP is my favorite band, but when he talks about James making his own solo album record deal without telling him.... Like, come on dude, why does he have to tell you? Billy even says when he found out his reaction was like, 'Oh okay, that's cool, I've been encouraging him for years to do his own thing.' Clearly, though, that's not how he felt if he goes on to say, 'He didn't even ask for my opinion as a friend, I woulda even probably like shadow wrote some of it so it would be better.' Okay, sure, I can see why Billy might be hurt on a personal level by someone who he saw as a friend keeping that secret from him, but like, isn't the whole point of it being a solo album that he doesn't want anyone's help writing it? And if he did want help he would ask. Like, how can Billy accuse James of being insecure and having a big ego when Billy's the one saying, 'Okay, I'm glad he's trying to make his own music, good for him, but he coulda asked me to help him, I woulda even wrote some stuff for him. At the very least he coulda asked my opinion.' Like, what? And to be clear, I think Billy is very clearly a much more talented musician than James, so I'm not biased towards James or anything.

[@MrFreeGman]

Billy understood that Iha didn't have the talent to be a successful solo musician on his own. He was right. But his mistake was in not just letting Iha fail and learn it the hard way. He wanted Iha to succeed.

[@Brinta3]

I can totally understand that James wanted his solo album to be his own thing, artistically speaking.

[@wolfstar675]

Corgan is the Smashing Pumpkins.

[@tchimmerroks]

There are many bands which hit it big where one member was the primary creative force, yet the creative input (however small) of the other member was still very essential to the end product. Melissa AufDerMauer once said that Billy could create an album with any musicians and it would still be a Smashing Pumpkins album. True, yet have any of the post-Jimmy, D'Arcy, and James SP albums been as good as those with them? For SP, I think the early years just happened to be Billy's creative peak years

[@lostalex77]

I don't like hearing Billy criticize James' solo album, because i love Be Strong Now, and i don't see how James' solo album is any of Billy's business. I love the originally Pumpkins, but BIlly needs to realize that James is a HUGE talent, and Billy you DON'T have a right to tell James how to make his solo album. James' solo album is great,

[@dearPOD]

he's damn symmetrical and a great guitarist. billy is fucking fine.

[@standinsilence]

Almost feels weird knowing James ended up back in The Pumpkins hearing all this.

[@000phill000]

The thing Billy just does not get is despite him being a genius, it was Jimmy's drumming that was the beating heart of the Pumpkins. That heart controlled even Billy without him realising the importance of it.

[@bloodaonadeline8346]

he says over and over again Jimmy’s one of the best drummers.

[@azaz...]

jimmy chamberlain is an incredible drummer

[@johnaston2296]

for those who may not know the music Billy is speaking of is Let It Come Down released by James Iha in 1998 it is a GREAT record !

[@andrewvanhalen1984]

Well they've all made up, so let's forget this interview ever happened lol

[@SrSacaninha]

They have? Are they coming back?

[@kristopherryanwatson]

uh, with exception of Darcy, but yes for the most part.

[@manuelpuente7336]

very well put =)

[@shplog2]

Agreed! Except the 1st statement. Calling him an ego-maniac is sorta a cop-out. It's like calling someone "crazy", it's vague and lazy. Billy was in control of that band because it was HIS creation, his idea, his songs. They all knew their roles, just didn't play them. Billy was sneaky at times, but always for the music's sake. I'm glad he did what he did. Anyway, I'm willing to bet he would have had the best intentions in that hypothetical. And yes,Iha could have used some pointers.

[@BozJustBad]

Everybody seems to hate the guy who's too talented...sad but true. Everybody always supports the others in the band, feeling sorry for them and bashing the leader. Well you know what? That's fucking wrong. Iha and D'arcy were acting like brats, butthurt brats and its obvious Billy was trying hard to keep the band together but they just couldn't stand it that he was so much bigger as a persona and artist.

[@O-YAMA]

you know it all, because im sure you were in the band..ha gimme a break

[@BozJustBad]

John Bobie I feel like I was, reading Billy's diary. :P

[@BozJustBad]

Yeah...however, I wouldn't count Jimmy among them, he was always fair to Billy and except from his drug addiction, didn't create problems for the band harmony. Great drummer too.

[@stark4614]

***** Correction: Billy AND Jimmy made the band. Jimmy was in the studio almost as much as Billy was. Listen to Billy when he says "Jimmy is one of the greatest drummers ever".

[@O-YAMA]

***** lol well written for an uneducated moron. Stay in school. Mom and dad would be so proud of you

[@floodland99]

Just listened to some of Iha's solo record & he's a much better singer. Impressed.

[@TALP808]

I met Howard once it was pretty sick! Nice guy

[@ledbowman]

anybody ever listen to this and just cry

[@alishaschupp4609]

Billy is a boss!!!

[@adamirfan557]

lol not

[@infinidominion]

must of been pretty sunny when the pic was taken

[@kjnyankee]

Can you post the full Billy Corgan interview please?

[@jeremiemorse8642]

I know James and Jimmy reunited recently with billy hope this leads to new material. You never know

[@dumbstupid5065]

+Jere M Whatever configuration of the band Billy ends up putting together, Jeff isn't going anywhere. Jeff is as much the Smashing Pumpkins now as anybody ever has been.

[@rotvalo]

Speaking of A Perfect Circle, Howerdel is one of my favorite guitarists, along with Mikael Åkerfeldt and Chris Squire.

[@vaipatri7718]

i hope one day i can write with you. he's just answering the questions he's being asked, although i will agree he is very harsh in what he is saying about his old band members. who knows if he could have made things better or not, betterment is an opinion.

[@evenness]

thw whole interview is on vevo... I love your songs billy and i hope one day you reform your friendship . I dont know why but I can feel some sadness in their words (billy and james) they need each other like brothers,. Don't wait until someone dies , same happened to the stone roses .. and it could happen to the smashing pumkins, this is a James interview watch?v=5Ri70WV7tiY

[@dummytree]

This remark killed me when I first heard it. Billy thinks he would have made James' album better with his imput. True or false, that was JAMES' album, and he wanted to do it his way! And the other remark "write your own fucking songs"? James did, songs that ended on his solo album were demoed for "Mellon Collie"...

[@ManMonkey600]

Funny hearing him trash and talk so much shit about James here. And now they are back together lol James has the patience of a saint to deal with Billy's shit. And yeah yeah I know Billy is a talented genius. Still he needs to humble himself a bit and realize he got to the top with James, Jimmy, and D'arcy. It sucks that Jimmy and D'arcy were so heavy into drugs. Still Pumpkins are one of the best bands of any era. Feel like they get overlooked a lot.

[@BarakaTheGreat]

He was his friend, he's got every right he wants to have.

[@tornmask1]

i've been their, done that & it still hurts Billy so i know! who will ever know that the group i was in would of been the opening band for The Smashing Pumpkins???? till this day i'm baffled & asked myself why with no answers. just facing reality & moving on...

[@tonyrosam]

but none of you are looking at the obvious point that he sings and plays the songs at the same time very well. He has all 4 musical instruments lamented to his voice and guitar.

[@ThaTruth223]

if billy is such the musical god you people proclaim him to be then why hasn't his music with out the other 3 members been as good or half as good?

[@kristopherryan4073]

that is a matter of opinion. you know that, right ?

[@ThaTruth223]

pertaining to what?

[@leob4403]

Oceania is actually pretty good. I would say that it's as good as Machina/Machines of God. While James Ihas solo stuff is really average. As for D'Arcy, well, she didn't release any material as far as I know

[@dragonborn4045]

i think that oceania is a fantastic album. just because it doesn't crack the top ten doesn't mean it sucks compared to pumpkins version 1993. i personally think billy has grown a lot artistically and it's a delight to hear that on the new album. the fact that he has been able to sustain a career for 20+ years based on a single, ever-evolving vision proves enough. actually, it's your kind of attitude that actually makes people see the new pumpkins as weak, because a lot of people have been attached more to the idea of the smashing pumpkins as four people rather than an idea conceived by billy and shared with whom he chooses. and because of that, a lot of diehard fans won't even go near the new stuff, simply because james, d'arcy, and jimmy aren't on it.

[@ThaTruth223]

i personally don't have a problem with the newer stuff.im not saying it isn't good music or great music,but the fact that people always downplay everyone excluding billy really bothers me.they all had contributions to the band and pretty big ones,but the billy fan club can't see past what they want to believe and read.again i like his music as a whole but people made it seem like he was the only reason why the albums/songs/music were as great as it was back then and now a lot frown at it because it can't live up to the past

[@kristopherryanwatson]

Maybe he just didnt like you. I met him 3 times after various shows over the past few years and hes always been great.

[@danielsacilotto3196]

"I would've been the friend that would've said, you could write a better...I would've even shadow wrote some of the stuff for him and never even said a word" - Geez Billy, I wonder why he didn't tell you. Seriously, Corgan's ever-swelling ego has become nauseating.

[@silentnoah]

+Daniel Sacilotto He would have pushed him, not take over his project.

[@drummerboy231434]

i think its ironic that billy replaced james and darcy with a half asian and a girl, and jimmy with a drummer that has a style like jimmy and who's favorite drummer is jimmy. Either everything is one big coincidence, its like he's going so far to recreate the pumpkins

[@wezzlyn]

5:06 Billy answers his own question I think. James did a SOLO album. It was James's album, so why WOULD he ask for Billy's help?

[@hymntonight]

I've been looking up Iha interviews, and it's strange but whenever the subject of the SP days are brought up he just "laughs" and says "I hardly remember." He really avoids speaking about it, no matter how many people ask him to.

[@philliptripolone5324]

great interview. SD could be the best album of the 90's

[@PunkFuckUp]

Don't know how james put up with billy for all those years...

[@maniswil2]

Money. Have you ever asked how people could shit their pants on a street corner daily and still have the balls to ask all the people on their way to work for money.

[@projecticeman365]

Don’t know how billy put up with ANYONE in that band for so many years. No disrespect to the other members but without billy they are nothing and would have never grown from that

[@kristopherryanwatson]

@@projecticeman365 very true. maybe James would have been okay on his own from the very beginning, but the exception is Jimmy. he has always been a truly gifted musician, with or without Billy. let's not even talk about D'arcy.

[@illerac84]

@@kristopherryanwatson Yeah, I think James and Jimmy would have found their path, but they got attracted to the proper flame.

[@kristopherryanwatson]

@@illerac84 yeah, for sure. ironically, i can't even picture the OG lineup in any other form unless it was those 4. there was something magical about it being those 4. despite all the tensions and passive aggressive dynamics, they make it work and the band cannot ever be in those great terms unless it was those 4. that being said, I'm glad the 'reunion' was successful even though Billy and D'arcy had their own rebooted fall out 2 years ago that resulted in her not being a part of it. too bad that didnt work out, but things happen for a reason. anyway, Jimmy's 'Complex' band is great. Billy's solo stuff is okay too. And then James' solo work and his involvement with APC is all pretty great too. It is just that SP of all things considered, was that magical ticket that was the one thing that blasted them into the stratosphere together.

[@illerac84]

There's a few drummers I'd talk to. RIP Neil.

[@cloudair4154]

i think a lead singer has certain qualities that make them a good lead, but those same qualities at times come off as negative when the cameras are off.. so its a situation where the band must take the bad with the good to succeed.. but they only wanted the good... like my dad can be annoying but he is also super reliable.. so its like i have to accept him fully, i cant just say “be this today and be that tomorrow” or in their case “be this on stage and be that behind the scenes” .. they need to give him room to breathe

[@dfisk79]

I didn't say I didn't meet him. I gave a general overview of his personality.

[@MrNicMachiavelli]

It is kind of hard to believe the problem was all James, Jimmy, and Darcy. And so what if she wanted to be an actress? You need them back. They were interesting people.

[@silentnoah]

+Nick Machiavelli eh, Darcy was the least important person

[@MrNicMachiavelli]

***** I just think she had a certain interesting personal style person that became memorable while playing with the rest of the band, not that she was particularly talented. If I hadn't been a teenager then where their images were ingrained in me, I would only consider Corgan important.

[@silentnoah]

Nick Machiavelli Yeah, I wasn't around then so Billy is the only one that matters to me... Well, Jimmy Chamberlin isn't replaceable but the rest are.

[@herbie747]

He never said Jimmy had an attitude problem. And have you ever seen an interview with Darcy? She's a smug asshole. And James seems like a bit of a dimwit.

[@silentnoah]

herbie747 agreed. every interview I've ever seen of Darcy is is just a straight bitch.

[@PHaRedArmy]

I don't think it's fair to criticize either side, we were just never involved with it, i'm sure that most of it was mis-communication and just a bunch of misunderstandings, as Billy indirectly says here, they're all great talent, and James said that he's not gonna say he's "never" going to reunite with the rest of the Pumpkins, so whatever happens happens, as much as I love the old guys, and the new guys.

[@sheldonbenton5278]

He wants people to like the new stuff more than just liking the old stuff, what he is saying, is that he's just there, people want to hear the old stuff, and the new stuff I great I'm not complaining, Im glad there still making music. It's kinda how people only wanted to hear it smells like teen spirit by nirvana, that's the only thing they came there for, kinda like the same with the smashing pumpkins, people want to just go there for the old stuff.

[@Iratherbeher]

well that depends, i love billy´s voice over michaels

[@wezzlyn]

I think everyone knows the story with D'arcy. James and Billy had different goals, and it made them resent each other.

[@sunnys5150]

I never saw "IT" with him or his band.

[@tinfoilhatter]

what did hu-ha do---see anyone could've played his parts--are they even audible?

[@samuraiyao]

Bums that were there since the 80s, that is some commitment to be label bums. Bums that after all these years Billy still has resentment and animosity towards them for leaving the band. Bums that were in almost every Smashing Pumpkins video/ Bums that played together all over the world in sold out shows and stadiums. I'd sure like to have these bums in my band if given the chance.

[@Zakdayak]

When you say underlings, you mean...? Who exactly?

[@thesaneparty4079]

The money does it every time- I would probably have tried to strike a deal where the writer(s) split the first 20 percent, and the remaining 80 is split 4 ways or something like that. It incentivizes everyone to write. When one guy is making 10 times what the rest of the band is making, it's not going to be a band for long.

[@jeromykriege9649]

Billy is a genius-they are always misunderstood.

[@dfisk79]

Yes, this is true, but you know how there is one person at work that is just a pain to deal with? That's Billy Corgan.

[@dfisk79]

I've met him personally, so yeah I do know him.

[@KingSlimjeezy]

Love, hate, or just think he's funny lookin SP simply not could have broke through without a guy like billy But I've worked with a number of extremely talented individuals with not-so-great people/managerial skills so I kind of sympathize with him

[@erichilkert4984]

wannabe stern, talking to corgan like hes a fellow band member and knows exactly what corgan is going through, too funny

[@maxfeeney1987]

He said Bon jovi wrote his own songs... Ha.

[@figu7716]

Billy, just get Jimmy and James back, for the love of all that is holy... please.

[@filmcraft_productions]

figu7716 He got Jimmy back.

[@RyanB1987]

Welp, James and Jimmy are back now!

[@figu7716]

And I am so happy!!! I saw it and I couldn't believe it. \m/

[@ballzmahonee5645]

figu7716 its over

[@jenskeroro]

Maybe James didn't want Billy's input? Maybe he wanted to do his own thing?

[@Spitfire-zx7rj]

if only billy stick up to his smashing pumpkins band mate on this interview, not played along with this interviewer who praised him so much whilst bashing the other band member, maybe there's a chance that we can see the old smashing pumpkin return. and this is clearly my opinion now, its Billy who still stuck on the past, he want james and darcy back but still want everything according to his way. well he certainly cant have that with james and darcy. so either be happy with his band as it is (which i still like), change his way of thinking and ask them to start again, or hoping and waiting for the other two to ask him to take em back . talking shit about them on an interview is just not right even if you think you're on right side, right? all and all, i like Billy's work i hope for the best to you man.

[@BidjeoBoso]

4:48 to 5:11 how did that work out for Love

[@Qdog145]

Cause he's not actually helping James or letting him follow his dreams (like he said) by ghostwriting his songs. Jams Iha actually had some okay solo stuff. Howard Stern is only trashing on it cause he's on Billy's D.

[@johnleclair5201]

billy is always ...billy....

[@backfru]

cant stand the man, loved the albums

[@tyson86overspinks]

hahaha wow that is so true!!!

[@AmericanSpyFox]

Jimmy is on a level even dave grohl hasn't reached

[@dfisk79]

I'm not egotistical at all. I work with all kinds of people. Some are nice, some are jerks. That's all there is to it.

[@chromeeyelashes]

He doesn't mean that James was beholden to him in any way. He's just saying that even though James knows that Billy's really talented and would be willing to help him in any way, he didn't go to him because of his ego and because their friendship wasn't really happening at that time.

[@fattahhardiwinangun333]

Zwan was more Smashing Pumpkins than the 2012 lineup of Smashing Pumpkins

[@jsh020]

This actually explains alot about why pumpkins broke up. I actually think i see why billy and james hate each other so much

[@rainmaker5160]

What Mr Corgan isn't talking about is that he overdubbed everyone's part on the entire Adore record without telling them about it, I'd be pissed as hell at him too.

[@Brinta3]

That’s a false claim. James was entirely involved in the recording of Adore and his guitar playing is all over the record. D’Arcy was rarely present in the studio, because she had problems. Billy has said that Shame was the only song they recorded all three of them live together in the studio, so that automically makes your claim “entire Adore record” untrue. It is not known how many other songs on Adore have D’Arcy’s playing. In any case, D’Arcy has always been very open about Billy recording bass on Gish and Siamese Dream, and while she has accused Billy of many things in recent years, she never said that Billy overdubbed/re-recorded anything without her knowing it.

[@KingSlimjeezy]

You know a band is quirky when the guy who OD's on Heroin is the most normal of the bunch And before anyone mentions Darcey female bass players are NOT normal - she was a first born i just know it. Like my older sister

[@KingSlimjeezy]

@RockMeAmadeus oh

[@Emme-Kappa]

As much as I agree with many things Billy said.. I can't help but think he really did act a bit like egoistically... saying things like "he should've consulted me for the solo album, I could have ghost written some tracks" to Iha or pretty much opposing to D'Arcy aspiration of being an actress were certainly not good behaviours. You got to make the other members do their own thing I guess... cause otherwise of course the only guy people would want to talk to continues to be just you. If the other 2 wanted to do other things in the meantime just fucking let them. They deserve it.

[@BTWNVIDS]

yeah APC are cool. but early pumpkins were so much better. Though i have to say, i really like the new line up and the new album. its great. Pumpkins is pretty much Billy corgan with a great drummer and other musicians that are good at playing and interpreting billys songs in a non egoic way

[@MrFreeGman]

Billy might be a self-centered egomaniac, but damn could he write a song

[@hallnoats4ever942]

MrFreeGman he should just hire guy like Bob Dylan does

[@ThreeWellsProven]

7:43 - 8:20…. Sums it up. Say what you want about Billy; but that's cold.

[@hymntonight]

Billy saying that he was "willing to shadow write some of Iha's solo album" shows that Billy is indeed an egomaniac and far from innocent in the band's inner conflicts. I don't doubt what he's saying about James and D'arcy is true, but it's just half the story. And in the end, I'm sorry: but none of the members have done a solo album that even comes near the genius of the original SP albums.

[@dunxalot]

I wish he wouldn't rag on James like that! It possibly speaks volumes to why the original lineup doesn't want to be in the same room as him! Then again I'm just a chump on KZbin!

[@tonyrosam]

When your the top dog you are challenged more.