Interview: Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins on nostalgia, wrestling, guitar riffs + fatherhood

The Smashing Pumpkins singer, songwriter and guitarist Billy Corgan speaks with The Australian’s national music writer, Andrew McMillen, about the US rock band's upcoming visit to Australia, for the first time since 2015, on a tour titled ‘The World Is A Vampire’.
As well, Corgan talks about his decision to bring performers from his wrestling company the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) on tour to perform between bands; his thoughts on nostalgia; his relationship with the guitar and writing riffs today; and how becoming a father has changed how he approaches his work.
To read more about Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins ahead of the band’s 10-date Australian tour in April 2023, click here to read The Weekend Australian Review's cover story, published March 4, 2023 (~15 minute read): www.theaustral...
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[@garciansmith1460]

Great interview! thank you for writing the article and doing this interview.

[@guitaristssuck8979]

13:10 There's a bit of The Aeroplane Flies High in Pastichio Medley

[@HallowWeener]

i cherish that box set

[@GrantValdes]

People get lost in the weeds of whether album X that came out three years before album Y is worlds better than Y. I've listened to it all.... The quality is consistent. Corgan has produced an astounding body of work.

[@raymondsmith9886]

The stuff after 2003 isn’t the same. Post 2000 isnt as good. He was on a run from 88-2000

[@drewlittell]

@@raymondsmith9886it’s still good it’s just not perfect like the original run.

[@SonyaBladesBooty]

Don't know who Y is but X is a kickass band

[@KylieClancy-ub6jo]

Great interview, thanks :)

[@clausm2203]

Great interview

[@JP-zi9mr]

Hooray

[@HallowWeener]

FANTASTIC!

[@samuelpaterson3303]

Amazing tour. Bribie island was epic

[@cthncthn7405]

Calling all musicians- let’s get to work!

[@Paul-dw2cl]

Let’s do it!

[@markmalonson7531]

So smart

[@kierenmoore3236]

Maybe the trouble with finding an Australian tour promoter had something to do with him throwing tantrums at gigs in the past, back before he was this ‘at peace’ with his back-catalogue/associated ‘nostalgia’ … I witnessed one such thrash tirade 🙄😏 Despite that, I was at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre again for this year’s tour, and it’s great to see Billy in a much better place (vis-a-viz his amazing back-catalogue) now … Didn’t have my Zero shirt with me, so wore my Tatum jersey (#0), lol. Was right near the front, so he must have clocked my bright green BOSTON jersey, lol. The poor old Bulls aren’t what they were (either?! ☺️) … Hey, just jokes / the world’s a vampire / etc etc … 😇

[@markmalonson7531]

fuckn jam

[@johndough6623]

Billy Corgan makes statements about people being so outraged about the music and how they've changed things. But the thing is, nobody has ever made these statements. EVER!

[@drewlittell]

Oh you should see the message boards friend!

[@dannym7255]

Hasn't done anything good since 2001, which still is 11 years of epic rock

[@lastbestplace8112]

nothing was put out in 2001...durr

[@phillipcarmody1895]

disagree, love the 2017 album with aeronaut on it.

[@johndough6623]

I MEAN, C'MON. NOBODY WAS PULLING BILLY CORGAN INTO A BOARD ROOM PAST THE 90'S. THE INDUSTRY MOVED ON

[@johndough6623]

You can tell this interviewer is like what the fuck is this guy talking about

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Shit just went over his head. Clearly not much of an intellectual.