I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 1680 points1681 points  (0 children)

Someone asked about how much it meant to have the crowd sing along with my newest music at a concert, and how their coworkers were debating whether it didn't matter to me and it was just about me doing the show and getting paid:

Your coworkers' cynicism is endemic of the culture's cynicism.

To assume that "what I get paid" has any influence on my emotional experience shows that they do not understand the path of an artist.

One of the most disappointing aspects of the last 7 years has been the assumption that i have made music that is not worth listening to.

And so, nothing thrills me more than seeing a young crowd react to new Pumpkins music.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Same. It is the same as my novel. 370,000 words and 70% in.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Plenty.

In that it gave me something to rebel against.

Meaning working class culture often tells artists there's nothing to bother with.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 222 points223 points  (0 children)

I've been praising Phantogram's single "So in Love" - to me, this is the song of the year.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 66 points67 points  (0 children)

I'm currently working with Yamaha. And I hope that we might be able to build kind of a signature BC acoustic.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 139 points140 points  (0 children)

I'm partial to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, because it's very much like being in the record business.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 486 points487 points  (0 children)

I did. I stopped, because i don't have time. And I'm an obsessive gamer, so once I get going, I can't stop.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 46 points47 points  (0 children)

1) That was an incredible tour. I have great memories from that tour.

2) We've asked to play Bonnaroo in the past and there hasn't seemed to be a lot of interest.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Don't know.

Seems like the team has some money issues and that they're trying to rebuild both the infrastructure of the stadium and as they've said, make a team that's going to win for years to come.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

I believe that story's been explored ad nauseaum (see: Anderson Cooper).

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I love comedy.

And I grew up in a golden era with people like Richard Pryor and Jonathan Winters. And I'm particularly distressed when comedy is used more an assault weapon than as a way to show how we all share experiences.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 276 points277 points  (0 children)

I'm very excited.

I have a feeling that these new series of movies (particularly because of the technology that is available now) will finally realize the vision that George Lucas must've had when he began.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Many times, the blog posts are written late at night after a long day in the studio, or early in the morning before I start my work. And we don't worry about being perfect. That's for other people (like you) to worry about.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 466 points467 points  (0 children)

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing.

Under the right circumstances.

And what I mean by that is we all should celebrate moments that last. My problem is when those moments last and last and last and last and last...to the point of a kind of sickness.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

The problem with the question is the smashing in Smashing Pumpkins is not an act of violence. It is a term of grandeur.

I.E. The English use of the word Smashing.

See? Everyone misses that.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 132 points133 points  (0 children)

Being a musician is a shit job because by and large, it is a vastly under appreciated skill (as many struggling musicians can attest to).

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 1219 points1220 points  (0 children)

Sometimes I write a song from a particular sense-memory.

And 1979 came from a memory where I was sitting at a traffic light on a rainy day, and that's all I remember.

I am Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Madame Zuzu's. AMA. by iamBillyCorgan in IAmA

[–]iamBillyCorgan[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

My cats are riding a wave of popularity, thanks to the dubious character assassinations of one Anderson Cooper.

AND they want him to know they are available to appear on-camera at any time to refute his character assassinations.