Billy Corgan Talks His New Album "Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun."

Formed in Chicago, IL in 1988, The Smashing Pumpkins released their heralded debut album, "Gish," in 1991 and found mainstream success. In June of 2018, The Smashing Pumpkins released their new single “Solara” ahead of their monumental "Shiny And Oh So Bright Tour." The track was the first song in over 18 years to feature founding members Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, alongside longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder and offered the first glimpse of music from the newly reformed lineup. In September of 2018, the band formally announced their forthcoming tenth studio album, "Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." The LP was recorded at Shangri La Studios with legendary producer Rick Rubin. With over 30 million albums sold to date, the Grammy, MTV VMA, and American Music Award-winning band remains one of the most influential bands in history.
BUILD is a live interview series like no other-a chance for fans to sit inches away from some of today’s biggest names in entertainment, tech, fashion and business as they share the stories behind their projects and passions. Every conversation yields insights, inspiration and plenty of surprises as moderators and audience members ask questions. It all happens several times a day live and live-streamed on BUILDseries.com.
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[@MUN00K]

Billy Corgan has emerged as a fully evolved grunge wizard, Lvl 42, w/ resistance to Nostalgia & D’arcy

[@johnpickk7526]

MUN00K hilarious lol

[@LizardKing1324]

LOL. He's at least lvl 50

[@danames5780]

MUN00K 😂😂😂

[@LJLewis94]

Jacket-cape boosts stamina +80

[@nebulous8389]

Lol I love that

[@damon6852]

Just love seeing the huge smile on Billy's face as he talks to his son!!!

[@chrissirhc7337]

Billy 'nosferatu' Corgan

[@kristopherryanwatson]

Wow that was original.

[@chrissirhc7337]

@@kristopherryanwatson despite whether its original or not there can be no argument as to its aptness :)

[@chrissirhc7337]

@FAST & BULBOUS also a tin tear drop

[@kristopherryanwatson]

@@chrissirhc7337 hahaha

[@prodbmanbeats]

That’s one way to put it lol

[@michaeljacksonearthangel5849]

I love how he doesn't just stick a phone or a tablet in his kid's hand to keep him busy 👍

[@mark321123]

I don't.

[@SoulLoveBase]

Funny how Billy gives his kid more airtime than he does any of his bandmates when he's doing interviews with them.

[@bleachedout]

soulofbass Lets just hope history doesn't end up repeating itself in a few years...🙄

[@MorrisB3]

Billy IS the band. Deal with it.

[@SoulLoveBase]

Some of use realize and recognize the input that James Iha, JC and D'arcy had in the band and have come to the conclusion, seeing how shitty the music was post Machina, that it wasn't simply Billy on his own that made the music great. He needed outside influences and ideas to make the Pumpkins great and without the aforementioned trio that made up the pumpkins, the band has turned into a shadow of its former self. You could use a dose of reality, bud.

[@MorrisB3]

Music post Machina wasn't shit. In fact, he got good critic reviews. But, hey whatever you need to tell yourself. Music is so-called lame yet you are here.

[@kingmiller1982]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@LovEaNdmusicA]

What a great, interesting and honest interview! Corgan is such an intelligent man, always fun to hear him talking! Kudos to hte journalist for the questions.

[@ellamennop]

also the interviewer did a nice job with this

[@baybae92]

Billy definitely likes to hear himself talk but I definitely like to hear Billy talk too 😂 I like that he’s opinionated but informed on a lot of things.

[@barbosahMX]

he has vast language resources, I love hearing him talk and everything he writes.

[@benking1573]

They still haven’t replaced those damn chairs

[@darrenthetuber743]

Bill burr brought me to these chairs

[@JamesGormleyMusic]

And eventually they got cushions

[@siradymccoy]

Ok... this is not an everyday scene how we see Corgan! Augustus is so adorable..... love the to see Pumpkins is finally settle down... lesser ego .. lesser glam.. more family quality more quality friends... just missing D'Arcy...

[@Adnezal]

I just love Billy, always have. I feel like he is very cold all the time tho. Most his interviews this year, he’s layers and layers deep :) One thing I always realized about the pumpkins and Billy in particular is how everyone assigned this dimension to him and really failed to see how simple he always was. He was always a playful and a beautiful person who had this great boyish smile. It was the simplicity of the music that always allowed me to choose what to do with it each time I listen. I also always would only see Billy and James at the live shows. They were the vein that coursed the frequency. Jimmy though, brought it this sense of respect and understanding. I honestly would never register D’arcy. She just never carried any vibe for me. Love the band. Going to see James Iha tomorrow with PC and I cannot wait. I love him so. Totally fan girl-ing these passed few weeks.

[@nebulous8389]

I'm really curious what Augustus's music is gonna sound like when he composes in the future...he has the blood of a musical wizard in his genes lol

[@nebulous8389]

@@2000jago 😂 yeah because that never happens

[@nebulous8389]

He is in a family of creators its in his blood he will be an artist by trade or by hobby I guarantee you

[@jasminefreeman6939]

Who said he'd make music? He can be his own person.

[@vampir8107]

I'm sure it was a half way joke, you're the definition of snowflake, jumping in getting all touchy at any given moment. This reply will probably break you. @@2000jago

[@vampir8107]

makes a joke, three snowflakes jump on

[@TheMelarose]

Awe Augustus ! I love u Corgan. Nice sweet Lil surprise - thanks (in all seriousness - I’m only less than - easily under a half min in) thank ya for unexpected lil angel-face surprise! Ok- carry(caring) on! 〰️❤️〰️

[@TheMelarose]

Oh was 33/35 min mark - ugh I’m just too honest up in this hardly HEARTy herd. And my foe-Ocd-like/ as a matter o’ fact- frankness. I’m Happy you procreated - so thank you - aww bill you’re such a great daddy/loving. Omg you’re killin me - with all the cutie pie overload - I love lovely humans. Call me coo coo. 🤗🤗🤗

[@unnamed9014]

"We're trying to capture the spirit of Spinal Tap but in a completely real-life context. It's a unique challenge, but I think we've succeeded." 😄

[@tr3vk4m]

If he is indeed a narcissist, he comes off here as a mature, medicated and functional one. I hope he appreciates the value of his expensive therapy.

[@holotape]

Happy Birthday Mr. Choo Choo

[@georgewallace7853]

How many pumpkins fans do you think were walking outside not knowing that Billy was in there

[@pattonPwr]

windows are blackened and you cannot see anything from outside

[@inphanta]

He says that Pumpkins and Nirvana lead the way for alternative bands to be "heavy", but Soundgarden were the first alternative band to be signed to a major label. Just putting that out there...

[@captainjanks8130]

Why don't you use Flood or Butch as your producer your best work was done under them and I am surprised you haven't gone back yet.

[@kitoyobeni1]

As far as Butch goes, isn't he touring with Garbage? You do need the producer to be available to fit your schedule. Flood maybe? Billy had just worked with Rick on his solo album, natural to choose him again for the next project.

[@captainjanks8130]

This is the mistake many people make as I am not talking about repeating material it is about who brings out your sound the best and Butch and Flood did that the best for this band. I am happy they are putting out new Material but I want to see either Flood or Butch work with the Pumpkins again.

[@kitoyobeni1]

@@captainjanks8130 It would be interesting, but isn't necessarily going to provide the same results as it did previously. Judging by the songs they made after getting back together, the bombastic wall-of-sound fuzz doesn't seem to be what they're going after. I hope it makes a return, but I've been hoping for the Chilis to return to some of their harder funk stuff too. Bands age and their tastes change. No two SP albums sound the same really and there has been a notable progression.

[@ClintsGuitarsNGear]

Yeah totally agree with you. It wouldn't have hurt them to return to the sound and producers that worked well for them in the past. I must say I was really expecting more of a return to the Siamese or Melloncollie era sound and writing wise.

[@kitoyobeni1]

@@ClintsGuitarsNGear Why would you expect that though? Their sound has changed with every album.

[@cmgardner2003]

Augustus is such a cutie!

[@nunopumpkin]

U2

[@jetjacobwildandcrazyrandom1320]

Yes. Such a cute boy. From Ann camille

[@sticksman1979]

These days I enjoy listening to Billy talk than his music.

[@agedefiant-heteromundane-s6943]

Billy looks at his child with pure love

[@joshserna5299]

I actually ran into billy corgan back in August at the Sawyer hotel. It was totally unexpected

[@matthewvanbueren5805]

Josh Serna how as he? Did you speak to him?

[@banfasso3109]

I love Billy and SP but this album is the most bland, ridiculously phoned-in, embarrassingly lame pile of shit by any band I’ve ever been a fan of. Billy Corgan made profoundly amazing music. “William Patrick Corgan” has been creatively void thus far. That said, he’s still the best speaker in all of music. People call him narcissistic but the truth is that when you’re that tremendously brilliant, how can you not be? And why, when you actually are superior, wouldn’t you be?

[@danames5780]

Ban Fasso I agree with the Last part of your Rant.The First is LMAO.so u got a 👍

[@23Nemesis]

As a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins since 1991 I can respect your opinion but have to disagree. To me the album sounds like the Smashing Pumpkins have matured and have created a more grown up album. We don't have the early angst that we had let's say during the Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness era but there is definitely some great songwriting there. There's definitely a message being delivered mainly by Billy Corgan in the songs and especially in the lyrics, I mean the album title says it all. Maybe if you just dug a little deeper you may find the meaning behind it. I'm not saying I have figured it all out but it definitely has something to do with our existence our place in our galaxy and the future of our very own Sun. Happy Trails my friend...

[@STONESGAM]

Yeah, I was deeply disappointed by this album. It sounded very generic and hollow. I thought maybe it would have that Siamese Dream era sound or something...but I was wrong. James Iha's contribution is not even felt at all. Not sure what they were going for here.

[@jetjacobwildandcrazyrandom1320]

What can u do

[@kennyjohnson907]

This album is trash..makes Monuments sound like Mellon Collie

[@silentnoah]

The current genres doing the "nihilist" stuff Billy was talking about are underground Emo Alt Rock & Emo Rap. Post-Hardcore and Metalcore also hit that threshold.

[@MorrisB3]

New album rocks! Wait. When did he have a kid!? 😯😁

[@juliejohnson3626]

William you are so smart!

[@dani1334]

Augustus is LOVELY!!! :D

[@jeuntjohn4794]

The new album is produced very shitty the drums distort cause they’re mixed way to loud

[@pattonPwr]

rick ruins it all rubin

[@cheshire_skatkat9093]

Someone crank up the heater! Can't you see BC is freezing?

[@guitarofdestiny]

Smashing pumpkins are on fire. They sound incredible, I love it.

[@thereisnocontenthere]

No

[@pattonPwr]

they suck... feel bad for one of my fav bands ever

[@brandonutterback3789]

Is it just me or does Augustus look a lot like Jeff Schroeder?

[@Lokjutus]

His mother has Asian roots.

[@nebulous8389]

lolol Jeff would get crucified, I see a little half asian Billy

[@soughtinsight5533]

Nebulous I see that too lmao

[@brianmanning9271]

Soundgarden was pretty heavy at the time you were starting.

[@thedon8594]

Looking more like Uncle Fester everyday. Looking at tickets for his Nov 30 show in Chicago.

[@jordanfreytag893]

Thanks for this! First comment

[@raffin2040]

This was a good interview. Hopefully Build Series will have him back on for the new Cyr album

[@ChannelZ3RO]

Billy breaks Kayfabe.

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

Come as You Are is more Life Goes On by The Damned than Eighties by Killing Joke

[@stephensullivan1879]

yeah Billy is just throwing it in that Kurt copied someone its a low blow for those that know music

[@rachelsanders2]

#1 there has got be a more efficient way to keep yourself warm than a scarf and a jacket draped over the shoulders layered over a hooded sweatshirt with with an oversized hood. #2 what is it, 28 degrees Fahrenheit in that studio?

[@oneminutewithprod]

Thanx for noticing 😅 i was thinking the same

[@Vibeagain]

lol

[@Vibeagain]

It is NOT a look

[@jimmyfabs78]

Billy with a kid, I like it. Besides music there has been nothing more fulfilling then being a father.

[@jetjacobwildandcrazyrandom1320]

Ghost children listen to Billy talking?i mean I. Talking about the website ghost children from machine the machine of God's album. I live it so much. And then seen was a huge influence. I have always loved smashing pumpkins

[@JaneenStokes10]

Despite all my rage, I'm in a mud pit 😂😂😂 I love you guys 👌🤘

[@littleblizzard7591]

Terrific interview! That little Augustus did really well. My kiddo would have been bouncing off the wall, no way he would have been quiet or still for any amount of time! Happy Birthday to Mr. Choo Choo!

[@sergejg2]

Is it just me or the volume of the video is really low?

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Hahaha whenever he says ''we'' I think he really means ''I''.

[@veerchasm1]

Augustus is a talker...like his Dad 😆😉 “Bifurcate”?!? “Pejorative“ ?!? words like that killed Rock N’ Roll 🤣

[@germfood7235]

Never thought I'd hear Billy mention Lil Peep ever. This is a pretty eyeopening interview for me not only on Corgan's open mind to all types of music but what that music truly represents.

[@veerchasm1]

17:25 “Sorry he’s gonna die”

[@allrain]

Why getting your 3 yo kid in such a bizzarre environment in front of the cameras? I don't think it's healthy when you're growing up. Apart from that, great interview!

[@lisatheboywonder6744]

Prolly the baby sitter cancelled at the last minute?

[@drtoboggan7469]

Billy dont wear sleeves cause he never knows when hes gonna have to shred a solo and sleeves just get in the way.

[@jsythe7143]

Should’ve used Flood.

[@callumrymer3046]

How do you work with producers? Billy: Apparently not well... xD Yeah....

[@Psyk078]

Tip for whoever edits these things...normalize your audio.

[@rockylosco5596]

Wonder if those folks walking by outside know that billy Corgans sitting right there

[@marcoabreo6506]

Why does he look like Fat Joe in the thumbnail?

[@furiouslysad5807]

Billy is the most underrated rockstar from 90's, he is the best.

[@Vibeagain]

I really don't think he's underrated. He has an acknowledged uninspiring voice, but I think he's fairly well lauded for his accomplishments at this point

[@SuperBoomshack]

Uncle Fester is alive!!!

[@stevendenny5667]

New album is fucking terrible...give it up Billy, you've lost the magic.

[@DavidDantePhoenix]

So it's bring your kid to work day?

[@unnamed9014]

Aerosmith created the formula for reaching young people as an older band. Make your videos sexy and cool by including young, sexy people. The Smashing Pumpkins look stupid for ignoring that model (pun intended).

[@jasonjamaican]

earned a sub

[@JediCrackSmoke]

Irony is a dead scene. Billy....

[@marioahu]

He has the cutest son.

[@greeko25]

He’s very eloquent. I was not a smashing pumpkins fan but I am a 90s child and like listening to artists that shaped that decade

[@anthonysablan8650]

It's so weird hearing Billy say the words 'Red Dead Redemption'

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

This was an enjoyable interview,

[@rockylosco5596]

What’s wrong with Billy’s mic hand?

[@mattystorer]

Rocky Losco it’s a birthmark, he used to try I hide it, but he don’t give a fuck anymore lol

[@ChristopherJ655]

The world is a vampire

[@jeromykriege9649]

I could listen to WPC talk for hours-he’s so intelligent and articulate. He is definitely an amazing father!

[@JediCrackSmoke]

Jeromy Kriege LOL! You’re hilarious.

[@thankyou2532]

what network was this originally on

[@JayEdom]

I swear this makes a better swan album than pumpkins

[@sticksman1979]

Billy looks cold!

[@sylc7973]

Could have been a great album if they had gone out of and beyond their comfort zone. There are great ideas though, I can't help but feel frustrated. Oh, and 8 tracks/33mn, the loooooong title + subtitle and the front cover mentioning it IS an lp guys, really! ... hm. Well, gonna watch the interview now, perhaps I'll get a few answers. Long Live the Pumpkins!

[@RamicF]

With all due respect, I thought the interview was great but I think it hurts Billy to say that Kurt did better in the 90s, and I think it's related to the different types of purity that his two souls had. Billy should not compare Kurt to him by saying that he was able to better control certain aspects of his music, He would have to say simply that kurt was different

[@lunarscorpio3987]

"the end, you mean." lol I love that

[@jacobwheeler7402]

"sorry he's gonna die" lmaoo

[@flower5185]

31:40 haha I love that the interviewer brought up Pavement. Does he not know how much Corgan hates them? Malkmus has poked fun at Billy a number of times and Corgan ain't having it

[@ohthefuture7618]

Is Billy's hand ok or is it.......about to explode? Idk

[@ohthefuture7618]

@FAST & BULBOUS Interesting. I was worried his heart might not be healthy or something. Good to know

[@lorenmckinstry5853]

Ikr🤔

[@issycole8256]

His SON MY HEART ❤️

[@mikerich3765]

Good Interview. I cant get enough of Billys interviews and hopes he does more with this new album. So curious to hear more about the songs, if anyone ever dives into the actual LP.

[@barbosahMX]

I always got the name was a joke.. for me its just OBVIOUS, I read a lot of comic books and they had like this sort of names: the AMAZING spiderman, the INCREDIBLE hulk, the FANTASTIC four... So it always went that way for me like in the SMASHING (like super great) pumpkins (like whatever) it was a cool name and its cool that Billy went on promoting my favorite band of all time.

[@sleepinertiac]

I don't care if they actually did it or not.. but I wish they'd record with Steve Albini. Steve has talked shit about the band before but honestly, who gives a shit? Albini is hands down my favorite living rock "producer"... you come in with your songs together and your shit together, play the songs live as a band.. track vocals, do overdubs and bang it out in a week or two. It's like the difference between Nirvana's *Nevermind* and *In Utero* , the latter of which I can listen to a million times whereas I can only turn on *Nevermind* once every couple years, lol. Sonics are just so important. There's no comparison of the sound on Pixies' *Surfer Rosa* to *Doolittle*. Surfer Rosa is probably my favorite rock recording ever if only for Albini's work on it. I strongly feel that rock doesn't have a very hard edge with the way its been recorded in recent years. It's not jazz but it's being treated like jazz and then over-compressed with pristinely clean sound. Anyway, SP can do whatever they want- it's cool enough that we get to hear this stuff at all. I can always run the mixes through lofi effects and EQ matching for an older album if I really want it to sound different.

[@TJmusic24]

You know, Billy sort of jokingly (or not) Said “YES?!” To that crowd question, but what I really liked is that when answering it, he focused on him and gave him eye contact... that’s pretty cool , a lot of artist don’t do that, they’ll take the question and look back at the interviewer or up in the sky like consumed with themselves to answer the question, he didn’t, that’s why I like Billy.

[@brentmoore3778]

When you interview billy,you had better come packing,he is no dummy.

[@jetjacobwildandcrazyrandom1320]

Nirvana sucked so much. I loved smashong pumpkins and would have chosen billy over Kurt. And yes I can so silly say that smashing pumpkins has more black Sabbath and led zepin influence just as well too. So. Also starla dear was am ecameply. Examply of both bands. Only it was a totally other era so my dad right now would so listen to gish 2

[@noemiroseb]

That was what happened to me, i didn't know about their new music bc youtube doesn't suggest it to me, radio doesn't play it.. my generation is weird on that point of view, you kinda get to see only what you want to see and nothing else..

[@rax816]

First time the issue of the band's name came up? Great interview just for that! PS just listened to the album and, frankly, it blows 😣 #bringbackDarcy #oranyfemalebassist

[@jetjacobwildandcrazyrandom1320]

Has anyone ever asked billy corgan if he has watched the video "devil n I" by slipknot? The singer rambles billy corgan 2 me and the song sounds like smashing pumpkins. Just saying this because I live smashing pumpkins and seen 2 of course seen as seen 2 me. It possibly was that seen reminded me if the Beatles

[@abarragan2973]

I have a fascination Billy because he’s always been trolling the media and for that, people think he’s a pompous jerk. He pretty much lays it down as to why he does that in this interview. Glad I watched it.

[@jsythe7143]

A) The interviewer doesn’t know “Green Tamborine”. Wtf. B) cut it out with the Mark McGrath, already.

Is that the singer of smashing pumps, or frikkin daredevil's KINGPIN. Holy shit

[@tonybacigalupi9178]

I’d be interested to hear a Pumpkins album produced by Michael Beinhorn. He has a way of making every intricate detail be heard.

[@ThomasAntoniusOlsenJr.333]

Billy claiming to be religious... that part was funny. What baphomet religious!

[@paco_rolon]

Does anyone know what is Augustus Juppiter's favorite Smashing Pumkins song?

[@AdamF90]

Mellon Collie and their Aeroplane B-sides were the Pumpkins I grew up with. Then I got into Siamese Dream

[@exeveche1979]

I’m a massive pumpkins fan and I’m 39 years old.I accept that this guy is a genius he totally is but I just feel he doesn’t use that genius in him anymore to show what he’s capable of doing.Trent reznor who’s mentioned is a perfect example of someone who just gets better and better.I wanted to like the ep so much but maybe 1 song on it is ok but seriously bland and like so many other comments it sounds like a pop album. Bored

[@geepike]

Imo, SP were the best because it was a heavy rock band playing pop songs. I love alot of Billy's softer stuff, but overall... just feels like the balls are gone, with alot of the magic.

[@firebirdgao]

This album is not so good ... I’m really disappointed

[@GimmeShelter1989]

Any shapeshifter talk?

[@nebulous8389]

Perfect way to promote his album lolol

[@abarragan2973]

“He’s on some next level shit” -Joe Rogan

[@leelohaskin7941]

Lol well he has been around Courtney Love hmmm..🤔

[@nebulous8389]

I've seen a one eyed monster

[@mixmastermonte]

The audience questions evoked the best segments. Interviewer should step it up with better questions and Less ass kissing!

[@robbyray]

This interviewer was so great. Also love Billy. Love all the references and insight.