Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, producer, television writer, poet, and professional wrestling promoter best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois, in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the addition of bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The band's direction has largely been driven by Corgan through his confessional lyrics, grandiose production values, and virtuosic musical...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth17 March 1967
CityElk Grove Village, IL
CountryUnited States of America
I never wanted to leave the Smashing Pumpkins. That was never the plan.
I've been too productive for too long, and despite what anybody wants to strip away from me, I am influential. I am.
Your basic person wants to talk about material culture, internet culture. I think about God, cats, nature.
The deeper I get into my life as a musician, I'm discovering that it becomes less and less about other people, and more about what I want to do. And that's a good place to be.
I've always been spiritual but I've never had a proper context, and it took me awhile to find the proper context. It's hard to realize you can have any kind of relationship with God you want... and so I now have a punk rock relationship with God.
I want people to see me happy.
In the beginning, though, I have to admit that I did have a chip on my shoulder. I did want to prove everyone wrong. But after I went through the process and came out the other side, it wasn't about anyone else.
If there was a simple ethic for the band, it was that we want to be able to do whatever we want to do.
There are people out there who are older who are cool. I want that.
I feel completely free to do whatever I want and how I want to do it. I feel unburdened by my past.
Being overly identified with [a certain period of time] becomes a noose around your neck, and people don't want you to grow up, they don't want you to change, they don't want you to evolve.
I want to be able to look back and think that as long as I was going this, I did the best that I could.
I want to make great songs.
Are you all ready to have a rockin' mashed potato time?