The Smashing Pumpkins: The Billy Corgan Interview
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- Опубликовано: 12 дек 2022
- Billy Corgan lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of The Smashing Pumpkins reflects on the songwriting and recording process of one of the most important bands in rock music history. Corgan has been at the forefront of the alternative rock music scene for over three decades. His distinct voice and guitar playing, as well as his often-provocative lyrics, have made the Smashing Pumpkins one of the most influential bands of their generation. Here is my interview.
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Did you find out the name of those headphones? I have the exact issue that Billy has!
1:23:08
The core of Corgan.
His brain cannot accept how time works.
@@educateme8455 “time is a persistent illusion”
You have to do an interview with rnoonrivers.
Can you do a What Makes This Song Great with the song Mayonaise. Has one of the best guitar tones and sound of any song of my childhood
This for me is the best interview I’ve seen from Billy. You let him flow and didn’t have a preconceived plan of questions. He looked nervous at the start, like he was being interviewed for the first time protective of his band and their latest single, slowly releasing the joy and magic that he had at the time of recordings and the eclectic mix of amazing producers, engineers and musicians he has worked with. If you could bottle this, the world would be an awesome place. As it is, this can go down as the most emotive and beautiful capturing of Billy discussing one of the most spectacular bands of all time. ❤❤❤
Yes we all know Rick needs to do as many interviews as possible for music fans to get the best information.
completely agree. Billy is usually a tough nut to crack. He's definitely a contrarian, and sometimes he comes across as pretentious (which is probably why he is always so nervous and guarded).. but that's just Billy. He's just stating the facts as he sees them, I think.
Rick does a really good job talking to people like Billy.
People respect Rick, and this puts them at ease. He's not trying to catch them out, or be a dick, just explore their work, as a fan, fellow musician and a music producer.
that's what Rick does, if you let him. That's why the Kiko interview disappointed me so much, he didn't let Rick do what he does best. Rick rocks.
Billy was on Rogan a couple years ago. That wasn't quite as musical an interview of course, but you really got to see him as a person
Watching Rick go from talking about Hackintoshes 5 years ago to interviewing Billy, Joni Mitchell, Tim Henson, all these people... It's amazing. He was a music educator, touring musician, hired cover band guitarist, a producer, back to the internets favorite music educator and now he's the best rock journalist. Rick is a national treasure.
Soo glad this channel found me also.
Here here
Here here!
I agree
this one agrees ! !
I swear to God, I could listen to Billy Corgan talk about music for hours. It’s almost therapeutic in a way.
love listening to him chat about anything! very intelligent guy
He’s very, very articulate. Clearly a smart man. I suspect he would’ve found success whatever he did.
😂 because he's going full ASMR quiet
He seems a bit pretentious but he's alright, he's from Chicago but he reminds me of a certain type of west coast artsy pretentious.
Even the last part with his insights on kids and tik tok and AI were just super enlightening and thought provoking!
Agreed! For me listening to Ted Greene is my meditation. I’m not a musician but he make me wants be.
Ok. I’ve never been a fan of Smashing Pumpkins and my impression of Billy Corgan was that he was insane. So I came to the first moments of this video watching only because I trusted Rick Beato and if he thought Billy was sufficiently important to interview, I would spare a few minutes to listen. Within the first minutes I was transfixed. I then started bouncing back and forth to Spotify to listen to the songs being discussed, sometimes recognizing them a bit and sometimes hearing them for maybe the first time. I listened to the entire interview, with those song discovery breaks, and was so impressed with Billy Corgan’s depth of knowledge and depth of commitment to his craft and his art. Spectacular interview, and it produced another nascent Pumpkins fan in the making.
Aye. Explained my exact situation. Tremendous amount of respect for him now.
The media has made him out to be insane because he doesn’t parrot the MS, leftist, work narrative. Therefore, he MUST be insane.
0:00 Rick’s intro
0:39 Gish and Butch Vig
4:38 Writing uptempo songs
8:01 Writing lyrics, melodies
11:21 Daydream
13:13 My Bloody Valentine
17:45 Producing UK vs USA style
22:09 Siamese Dream
25:15 Tonight, Tonight I
30:12 Pro Tools sounds weird
35:40 1979
39:59 Jellybelly
43:18 Bullet With Butterfly Wings
45:09 Working in the studio
49:10 Butch ‘dad’ Vig
56:30 Disarm
1:01:33 Muzzle
1:13:27 Tonight, Tonight II
1:21:28 Billy on Generation TikTok
Note: I love how Billy, in the closeups with the mic stand behind him, looks like a samurai.
Lol. Nice eye.
MVP
Good work!
And good eye on the whole samurai thingy! Lol
Why does his left hand have a different skin tint/color? I thought it was because of the camera position, but it's in the other shots as well.
@@gilassp it's like a birth mark, called Port Wine Stain.
If you are a Smashing Pumpkins fan this is the greatest thing ever. Just a superb interview about their albums, songs, and the recording process. Billy Corgan is one of the most intelligent musicians around. What a talented and articulate guy. Way to go Rick, another homerun!!!
Well said.
Yea, dude is as cool as I hoped he was !
And he was on Alex Jones.
@@jonmo2694 which makes me question his intelligence
@@Radres12345 makes me question Your intelligence!
This wasn’t a interview. This is a time marker of music history. Thank you Beato.
That's exactly correct, Michael. It's the coolest thing to hear some of the history we get to hear about of amazing music icons. ALL the stories from his interview with bassist Ron Carter are just incredible. Talking about the old CBS 30th street studio he used to record in (that used to actually be a church!) with Miles Davis etc.... incredible history. Great stories. HISTORY!!! Beato brings it all home.
A time marker of music history can be an interview too so no. It's both.
dramatic asl
When Billy says, "unless you want me to talk over the track". Lol, he is so subtle.
I was 10 years old in '95 when Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness came out. Changed my life. I was a depressed kid with an alcoholic father, parents were getting divorced that year, moved to a new neighborhood. But when I got this cd, I wasn't angry or depressed anymore. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. It transported me to a better world. Billy, James, Jimmy and D'Arcy saved my life.
I was the same ten year old in 95.
It is one of the more beautiful albums ever
I was 15 and that album changed my life
I was 20 and experimenting
I was 26
The revelation that Billy revealed about Butch after the Nirvana job becoming resolved to make sure The Pumpkins would have a hit record with Siamese Dream is exactly the kind of deep dive answers that Ricks interviews are adding to history that we wouldn’t get any other way. Thank you Rick for that.
Exactly. Brilliant info!
It really answered a long-time question that I had in my head "whatever happened to Butch Vig and the Pumpkins after Siamese Dreams?"
Billy has always had a jealousy/insecurity about Nirvana
@@SirOttis I think I like Billy Corgan for the most part, but he comes off as arrogant there. Does he have a patent on layering guitars? Come on.
@@alexgrantham4747I thought he explained himself in a long thought there - at first he felt ripped off, but then realized the give and take of working with another producer; where you can't help but be influenced by those you are working with so closely for months at a time, and that's where the resolution was in Vig returning the favor on Siamese Dream.
No one is probably going to read this but "Disarm" is one of my all time favourite songs. It's just so hauntingly beautiful.
I agree 100%, Nutshell by AIC gives me a similar feeling
Same! Beautiful song! 🫶
Disarm' is the tuné that got me into the Pumpkins because the lyrics kinda related to my up bringing in a foster home🥴
I hear you.❤i was just out of school when i was driving home one night and it came on the radio..i had to pull over. I was overwhelmed😢
My absolute favourite song of all time and yet after seeing the pumpkins 3 times I still haven't seen them play Disarm :(
I've never really seen Billy like this before. I think it is a testament to Billy's respect for Rick that allowed him to have a conversation like this. I will be watching this interview many more times.
Agree, I think Rick is universally respected.
Rick is a highly acclaimed producer whom has great knowledge of music theory. As a guitar player he's actually better than Billy on a technical level. As a song writer though Billy has it in spades. Billy is obviously intimidated of Beato. I would be too when your producer knows the guitar neck way better than you do.
@@TheAgentAssassin that is reaching a little bit. Billy was working with the top engineers, and producers Flood ,butch vig and others . billy was an influence also to butch vig as he ripped off billys work/ideas and put into nevermind. around 50:00
It’s so nice to be treated to Billy being interviewed by an appropriate interviewer that’s able to talk with Billy rather than being irritating. I’ve never seen him so willing and happy to talk freely with his guard let down and share so much, as opposed to merely offering answers to a series of questions. I guess all the good interviews are when a conversation happens between the host and the guest.
Rick is great when doing interviews, he contributes value with commentary, asks questions that will yield interesting answers, is able to articulate why a piece of music moves him and evokes the emotion that it does and talk about music with the artist on a peer to peer level (then turn around and regurgitate the gist of it in a form that even I can understand clearly. Numerous times Ive found myself listening to him breaking down a song (or it’s verse, chorus, etc) and thinking “oh wow, that’s what I’ve always felt when listening to that and now I understand why or how it produced that resulting feeling.
I really appreciate that his taste in music that’s not restrained by a time period or type, and he has great personal experiences to share and pull from (the fact that he’s immersed in that world and can look at it both from the inside and as a fan or onlooker peering in).
@@TheAgentAssassin how can you say Rick is a better technical player if no one listens to his records? all due respect to Rick but what good is technique when you’re not writing the parts of songs that people are actually gonna listen to?
No other interviewer can get musicians to open up about their music and process the way Rick does. The mutual respect blows past the defences these guys erect to get through regular interviews.
Because he's a producer asking questions, not an interviewer
Can’t wait to see the STP interview. Rick says it will happen?
Exactly
Exactly! I've seen so many interviews of Billy Corgan and to see him here drop his guards and just talk as one musician to another is awesome!
Same thing with so many of Rick's interviews... i.e. the Maynard interview just recently was so killer for the same reason.
Just like a good doctor...he understands YOU.
Rick Beato’s interviews are simply the best. He asks a question & then allows the artists all the time to fully respond that they need. He treats them respectfully. Rick is a gift to music appreciators.
I agree. This isn’t just one of his best interviews. It’s one of the best musician interviews I’ve ever seen.
I hope Billy knows how powerfully he inspired a whole generation. Can't thank you enough for making music.
Biggest influence on my playing too.
Oh he knows!
Biggest thing since Chewbacca Mom WrestleMania leotard was in diapers
Based on TikTok, seems like the Zoomers are getting into SP, too. Encouraging.
Billy is clearly an unusually intelligent rocker. His ability to communicate very subtle and sophisticated concepts is as impressive as his musicianship. Hats off to this guy.
Butch Vig not gonna be uploaded? why?
Why do you consider him an unusually intelligent rocker?
@@MP_Soundbox I've seen many interviews from rock band members and as a whole they are usually interesting and bright people. But Corgan's eloquence and insights struck me as unusual. He seems to have a very sharp and independent mind. If he didn't end up doing music, he would probably be doing something interesting in another field.
Billy Corgan has been and scored genius level musical iq as a child. He either has genius level iq or at the very least highly above average iq
Agree @Kfir. That was one of the best rock interviews of all time.
You know why this is an awesome interview. Because Rick lets Billy tell the full story, no butting in to add distraction to the conversation flow. It's amazing what Billy explains here especially in relation to the other very popular bands of the early 90's without using the N word.
He literally said Nirvana in his first thought train 💀
He even said “Kurt was the best of the class”, which is highly incorrect.
@@rustykrieger7181 Oof that’s a weird take. 90s music was all about emotion and melody. Kurt was definitely the top in both of those categories. His melodies are INCREDIBLE. And his overall song structure is much more sophisticated than people give him credit for because they don’t look past the verse chorus pop format.
why would he say a racist word? I’m confused
@@Glixity nirvana
This band was always my drug of choice navigating thru the dark times of teenage adolescence.. Siamese Dream is still my go to at 43 when life happens. Great interview, thank you.
Siamese Dream, great great Album..
43 here as well and this band saved me as a teen.
I’m about to turn 43, and I too still turn on Siamese Dream and listen all the way through.
Still moves me like it did when I was a teenager.
Billy Corgan gave us a gift!❤
Saw Billy play an acoustic show in Glasgow a few years ago. After he’d played about 3 songs and not said a word in between, a guy in the crowd shouted “I love you Billy” to which he replied, totally deadpan, “don’t f*cking talk to me”. Honestly, the 2 or 3 seconds before he burst out laughing felt like 2 or 3 hours 😂 Amazing show. He’s magnetic to watch!
Hey Chris! Cool to see you here mate! Love your work!
Oh dude that is hilarious. Playing on his moody rockstar vibe haha
You're an amazing guitarist
LOL, I was that guy! 😂😂
Didn't expect to see my favorite modern guitarist here commenting on a Billy Corgan interview. Gonna be a good day.
Quite simply one of the best interviews of a rock legend ever. I have watched this video twice, and the thing that stands out the most, is Rick Beato's absolute respect for the music, production, and the artist's vision only. No questions about the band, the drama, infighting, reunions, none of that. Thank You Rick for doing this, I hope to see more of these. 😃👍
Could not agree more. Enjoyed every minute of it.
Agreed
I can only agree.
He's really hamming it up
Wonderful interview I am mid-sixties and came up from a very different musical upbringing but you cannot come away from this interview without sincere appreciation for Billy's craftsmanship his music and his beautiful ability to express himself. Also hats off to Rick for really understanding the nuances of Billy's music and helping him bring those out in the interview
I've seen several interviews with Billy Corgan over the years and this is easily one of the best. Your ability to connect with artists who have a reputation of being notoriously guarded and then to *disarm* them with your shared language of music is a joy to watch.
"Sunshine on a rainy day" - a perfect description of much of SP's music (and something I love in many other bands, and they don't even necessarily sound alike). That sort of emotional complexity is what always drew me to their stuff, and still does. It isn't "happy," but it isn't just "sad" either -- some weird mix of elements that can't be separated. That goes beyond mere technical ability, but something more indefinable and intangible -- that's magic.
And that’s how life is. Life isn’t all happiness and hopefully not all sadness. It’s everything.
28y ago, I was a teenager, Croatia Europe, my parents were going to Budapest on a day trip, asked me what to bring me, I said if you come across New Smashing Pumpkins CD (I could not buy it in Croatia), Mellon Collie just got out, they came back, and there it was, I’ll never forget that day, double cd, I listened to it endlessly, reading the lyrics, enjoying in masterpiece, people just dont listen to music like that anymore, one of my favourite music memories. The same was when I first heared disarm on a cassete.
This is actually the first Billy Corgan interview I watched and I love how he's randomly citing different artists as the interview goes along, dude is literally a true music nerd with the facade of a rockstar.
Ain’t no facade. He’s a rock star AND a music nerd 😊
@@Ratabulous Exactly neither quality is a mutually exclusive from another
Huge music nerd for sure
If you ever went through Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie you must realise that the guy is listening to million things his music is so multi-faceted, it cannot be any other way. And SP was/is full of big personalities. It was obvious right from the start. Jimmy was always the biggest "RockStar" of the band, but there is a fair share of that in all of them.
I'm writing down every band he names lol
The way Disarm leaves space for the strings to open wide, is the way Rick left space for Billy to dynamically expand the interview. This was magestic.
Wonderful analogy
Rick, as a former music journalist having done tons of interviews myself, I have to say, this is a true piece of art. Getting Billy to loosen and open up over the course of the conversation is an amazing feat. Inspiring stuff. Chapeau!
Some of my favorite moments are when Rick plays Smashing Pumpkins music while sitting with Billy Corgan reminds me of the 'skits' with Chris Farley doing interviews on 'The Chris Farley Show'. But in the most loving way and him just being a fanboy. I think it's just freakin' the most wonderful thing. Billy smiling during. 💗
The fact he feels comfortable just strumming and singing is a testament to Rick’s skills as an interviewer. Bravo.
Or it's because he's done it every single day for 35 years.
@@JustinLesamiz yes. But I guess I mean a lot of artists don’t like to perform unless fully prepared. And I typed that before he said he watches the channel. So Inguess he already was comfortable with Rick. But still it is a very well done interview.
@@JustinLesamiz I'm remembering the name of an old Facebook group from my college days: "Yes, I'm a voice major. No, I won't sing something for you *right now*!" Scott's completely correct that singing in front of an audience full of people who came to see you and singing in front of an interviewer are two very different things.
It’s also the fact that he respects Rick.
All else aside, he is a fantastic interviewer.
Best interview with Billy ever. Waited over 30 years for him to be comfortable in a truly musical forum. So effing good, Rick.
I was surprised at how the interview with Joe rogan went. I began to like Corgan again after that one. He came off as more likable on this one too.
Yeah he got him to really open up on his process, it was fascinating. Guy is very intelligent and thoughtful.
His voice is the instrument that gives band their unique and haunting sound.
Their SUCKY and ANNOYING sound lol. ask Bruce Springsteen. He said THEY SUCK in so many words!
@sezwah1414 well like I've said, people suck.
@@sezwah1414I’d take Smashing Pumpkins over Bruce Springsteen any day!
@@facelessandnameless Wow...Good 4U, I guess...if you like unintentionally atonal, non rhythmic, no groove, nasal vocals and DULL dirges, GO FOR IT, enjoy your life!
You don't have to like it, but Jimmy Chamberlain is a fantastic drummer. You can't say they have no groove. Anyway, you're coming off like a third grader. "The thing you like is dumb! The thing I like is way more gooder!"
Great interview. As a graduate of 92, the 90's was an eargasm era for many of my friends and myself and we always looked for the next Smashing Pumpkins release with great anticipation. While rap was blowing up the low end of our high end car stereos, Pumpkins would tax the whole system and only sounded good if you paid attention to the mids and highs. It was truly a magical time for music and music discovery.
Class of ‘92, here 🤟🏽
There was a LOT of great, great music in the 90s.
🙋🏼♂️ '90 Madison West High which wasn't far from Smart Studios I worked with a guy at a small grocery he also worked part time at Smart Studios he'd talk my ear off about Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana right before both became massive lol
This is a conversation. To call it an interview is to undersell it. Rick is a true fan and Billy responds to that. Absolute gold!
Nailed it
That's it. I was loathe to call it an interview as well. You nailed it.
This is one of Rick Beato's USPs: this man is such a talent with a Deeep knowledge and love of the art form.
Billy Corgan on his best behavior: open, informative and generous. A truly insightful interview from a remarkable talent.
Very well said.
I've never like The Smashing Pumpkins or alternative music for that matter. This interview started playing on my phone at work and I couldn't stop listening. I walked away with a whole different look at this band. Hell yeah!
Always love Billy's intelligence, insights, openness, and humanity. Seems like an amazing guy
I wish he had been as thoughtful before choosing to go on InfoWars and banter with a conspiracy theorist who had recently mocked parents whose toddlers were murdered at Sandy Hook. Love the Pumpkins…but it had to be said.
@@libertinemestop being a sheep 🐑
I can’t tell you how good this is. The way Corgan explains himself is simply amazing.
He's clearly a bright, talented and intuitive guy who has come to know and accept himself; its so nice to see someone so at ease in their one skin.
Has Billy Corgan ever been so comfortable during an interview? This is truly wonderful to watch as Billy gradually opens up throughout the course of the recording. Thank you to both Rick and Billy, mesmerising stuff.
I've never seen him come close to this level of maturity, self-awareness, WARMTH?! Billy!
He did a great interview with Alex jones
@@AVoiceForThePeople I had no idea that was a thing. I can only imagine.
@@AVoiceForThePeople As much as I love Billy Corgan, my hate for Alex Jones will keep me from going anywhere near that interview - Jones doesn't deserve ANYONES eyes or ears.
I've been having a Smashing Pumpkins renaissance lately so this interview has come along at just the right time. Such a great conversation. You're a brilliant interviewer, Rick. Fascinating to hear Billy speak candidly and passionately.
so many incredible songs... even on their most recent album. "Hooligan" and "Steps in Time" are straight bangers
Siamese dream is one of my all time top 10 albums. Can listen to it from start to finish. Just perfection
Rick, you are making our lives brighter with all those interviews. Especially when it comes of heroes of 90s
Smashing Pumpkins had such a profound impact on my composition and songwriting thinking processes. Such a legendary musician is Billy, so glad to see you 1-on-1 with him.
Same here. I think James is also a criminally underrated rhythm guitarist. I love billy to death, but James is also a hero of mine. He's the main reason I started playing a les paul custom 😎
@@alextalada7353 I underappreciated James for many years but his unique playing style was crucial to the Pumpkins live sound. Billy's still the man when it comes to shredding though 🎸🤘
@@alextalada7353 I hate using the word underrated with a band so big like the pumpkins but I think Billy is an underrated guitarist he can shred, his tone is amazing and nobody really ever talks about him, not many people talk about him being a big influence on other players sure there are people influenced by him but for how many albums sold and hit songs he’s written his name is almost non existent as influencing new players. You look at a guy like Tom Delonge who isn’t anywhere near the guitarist Billy is but is 100xs more influential and probably sold many millions of his guitars which is probably because Tom’s stuff is much more riffy and always very simple. Both blink and Pumpkins have sold around the same amount of albums it’s just weird how every member of blink is a very influential musician really all the members have inspired so many kids to go out and buy instruments they sold millions of instruments and so many popular musicians from 1999 to current day wouldn’t be a musician without blink but it’s just not common for people to say pumpkins it’s very weird how that happens
@peanutbutterisfu I'm not sure how old you are, but I can personally attest to the fact that Billy both influenced and discouraged a lot of people from taking up guitar back in the early and mid '90s. It might be hard to see that influence so much further down the road.
My thinking is that Billy/Smashing Pumpkins were popular during a period where a lot of the really big music on the radio and MTV was guitar-driven, so they fell into a list of influential guitar bands (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Pumpkins, early Green Day, Jane's Addiction, Sonic Youth, etc), which meant that we sometimes quoted influence from one, and sometimes another. On the other hand, Blink 182 emerged on the pop charts at a time when guitar-based music was not nearly as prevalent (Green Day, maybe) thus making their influence seem that much more extensive.
It's fair to note though, that as you mentioned Blink's approach to guitar is less immersive and more hooky, being more a part of the whole than a standout of the show. That in itself is attractive to younger musicians who want to climb in and quickly learn something relevant to them and their age and lives.
@@peanutbutterisfu Problem is, the deeper you understand yourself, the less people hear what you're trying to express.
Muzzle my all time favorite Pumpins song. the change from happy sounding, good times song with that little heartache melancholy melody over it, does make it unique billy style
Billy did an RV tour across the south 6 or 7 years ago, checking out the countryside and small towns. He would just show up in a small town and just play in the town square. It was fascinating to watch and following him in real time as they recoded the documentary. But a fascinating watch even today
That was such a great series. Starting it off by taking the rear view mirror out.
In what world does a 90-minute interview go by so quickly and somehow leave you still wanting more? Beautiful interview, Rick. You asked the perfect questions, played the perfect songs, and got so much out of your time with this amazingly talented legend. Thank you so much.
Agreed ! Enjoyed every minute and did not want it it to be over.
Gratefully, it happens in our world.
My thoughts exactly!
I am laughing and crying (literally). Billy recalling Alan Moulder's recollection of spending 7 hours mixing Kevin Shields guitar sound and using his dog's head tweaks and perked ears as a sort of guide is killing me. Bravo Rick, this is one of the greatest, illuminating Billy Corgan interviews ever committed to video. Both your guys knowledge and seemingly simpatico tastes and way of expressing the descriptions of music to words (not always easy) is awe inspiring.
Joe Rogan's Interview with Billy is worth a Listen as well.
Strangely, Alan Moulder is my hero in Music !!!!
@@MarkLynskey Oh yeah, I agree it's just that Joe does not have the depth of knowledge that Rick has in terms of music, music production, theory and total industry knowledge (the whole ball of wax) but I enjoyed Billy on Rogan as well but not like this.
@@joelcaron8291 Dude his is good hero , inspiration to have, not strange at all.
@@americanpancakelive oh yeah without a doubt but we got to see an amazing side of corgan and the whole "Billy miserable at Disney land" bit was fuckin gold.
This is, by far, Billy’s best interview. He is opened, unguarded, vulnerable, generous, insightful, and genuine. This is entirely due to Rick allowing him to feel safe to share his authentic self as a person and an artist.
First time I've seen him interviewed. At first, I was struck by how boring and 'aspergy' he seemed (e.g., detached, not looking at the interviewer). But he gradually warmed and opened up and became more engaging and animated. Love early SP
I saw Pumpkins at Boston Garden last October. Seeing and hearing Jimmy in a live setting was an unforgettable experience. Hands down one of THE finest rock drummers out there today.
I love the fact that Billy refers to this as a show. Not just another RUclips video. With Rick saying that this is self-funded, it shows that this is pretty amazing that somebody like Rick is out doing commercial channels and corporations. Keep up the amazing work!
Rick's definitely filling a gap that has long needed to be filled in the music industry. Actually sitting down with working musicians who have had impacts on a huge number of people over the past many decades is hugely insightful. I would be very surprised if he hasn't been approached to create a Netflix show or something similar but I'm so glad that he's made these talks available for everyone for free, it really shows his passion for the music industry.
@@barrettNZ I feel like Rick's importance to music is up there with John Peel or someone.
@@RCAvhstape
Reading @Mark B ‘s comment, exactly the same thought came to me… you’re showing your age 🤣❤️🇷🇴
@@clivehorridge Actually I'm not; I never heard of John Peel until a few years ago. He wasn't well-known in the US when I was growing up.
I also like how Billy is really aware that this channel has an audience that wants to know about obscure and nitty gritty production stuff. He let himself talk about things he wanted to talk about because he knew the audience would appreciate it, unlike the mainstream media interviews.
The visible change in body language from beginning to end of this video is remarkable. As he said "you're reading my mind" he began to slowly turn more into Rick and into the interview and seems so much more relaxed by the end. What an excellent document of his career up to this point. The last 4 minutes or so were a little bleak but that's on par with a Billy Corgan experience. Also, Billy is extremely midwestern in a way I never realized.
Ooo, that last line fascinates me as a midwesterner. What do you mean by that?
Yeah, the "warming-up" thing was also visible in the Sting interview, which this is on a par with.
I thought I'd have to split this in to chunks to watch it all, but the whole thing kept me engrossed from beginning to end.
indeed
Exactly. He hardly made eye contact with him in the first 30min. Then he started to relax.
@@TheAlibabatree Midwestern sensibility.
Billy Corgan has an almost Wilde-like way of saying nice things about people that sound mean, and mean things about people that sound nice. What an enigma of a dude.
Smashing Pumpkins music to me is orgasmic. Especially Soma, your soul just feels like it’s gonna come out of your body and feel a release it’s hard to explain, one the GOAT bands.
The lady who wrote the strings arrangement on Tonight tonight, whose name Billy can’t remember, is Audrey Riley 🤗
What an interview… just watched it and when it came to an end, I just wished it could have lasted for another four hours. Thank you Rick for bringing us such tremendous content to watch.
Beautiful interview. No bullshit, no Gossip, no drama, just music, creative process and history. Thank you 🙏
apart from BC saying that teen spirit rips off his guitar sound. Bit conceited, imo
My daughters born in 2005 and 2006 always tell me "you are so lucky dad, when you were in high-school there was so much great music!!".... and i say yes i was blessed with great music.
This is so good because Rick is a musician and he listens. I remember listening to Lars Ulrich's radio show and thinking the same thing. He was naturally good at interviews because musicians learn to listen and respond.
100% Lars is actually suprisingly an amazing interviewer.
I realized something. Rick's a bit older than me, as was most artists/producers who I listened to in my youth. Which is why when he interviews these talents, they're mapping to the music I grew up to in the 80s and 90s. Thank you Rick for literally reviving the soundtrack of my youth with your insightful interviews. No one else extracts the musical knowledge out of these artists like you do, because you speak their language.
I'm 59, with the same musical context as Rick. Younger people dip into "classic" music without that context. I do love that they enjoy it as much as I do. But I wonder how they incorporate less familiar bands like Roxy Music. And now that I think of it, why shouldn't Rick give an overview of Roxy Music????
I am 51 now, very glad that I was the 50th upvote for comment. Be well
This interview drove home for me how much Billy respects and admires Jimmy, and how essential he is to the Pumpkins.
But he didn't say a single word about bass player chick
@@humanactivated1017 D’Arcy? She’s old news at this point. Even more conspicuous was how little he mentioned James relative to Jimmy.
@@humanactivated1017 LOL
@@frajoladellagato she was still a founder of the band . Corona took all the credit and money and I’m some ways deserves it
@@humanactivated1017at the end of the video he did, by saying how important all four band members were.
Billy is extremely eloquent. Super smart guy. Geek USA is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life.
Billy isn't usually that good of an interview, but with Rick everybody is their real self. great interview. Both did great
Rick doesn't push and as a fellow musician they can relate.
I noticed that. They're more like peers.
His Joe Rogan interview is also phenomenal.
He was with Lars on it's electric- but then everyone was when he was doing that. Dude was born to talk, and listen as it turns out.
Rick always brings the best out of everyone he interviews. We always know it's going to be a delight!
Billy should be included in the conversation as a once in a lifetime genius. His musical and artistic perspective is amazing.
I think he probably thinks this about himself but has enough humility not to say it.
He is a genius.
Where is the music that moves your soul, like Disarm does, now days? There is nothing like the complicated depth of The Smashing Pumpkins. Thank you for this delightful interview.
I’ve been a huge fan of SP since Gish came out when I was about 17, and now at 50, I still say that if I could sit and have a conversation about music with anyone in the world, it would be Billy Corgan. This guy is so intelligent and well-versed in so many aspects of music and creativity. Several months ago he ended up in my small southern city to rehearse for a tour with Jane’s Addiction, and was spotted in a local record store about half a mile from my house. I’ve been kicking myself ever since for not being out buying records that day, lol.
Hands down the best Billy Corgan interview I've ever heard. Thank You for delivering Rick!
What struck me most about this interview was when you played Disarm. Billy seemed very contemplative. Whereas you Rick, we're bobbing your head and smiling. Billy was looking down with no expression. I couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling.
If I had one wish in the world, it would be that Billy could hear the song like I hear it. With nothing but complete adoration for him, his talent, his voice, literally moved the tears every time I hear it now. I hope he feels the wonderment, even a slice of the emotion the song conjures in me.
I turned 47 this year, and there's no music that speaks to me the way that Smashing Pumpkins does. And no other music ever will. Thank you Billy.
He could never hear it like you hear it. Remember when he said sometimes the yes no voice in his head goes on for months? How listening takes him back to the songs recording? He has an ego but most artists don't view their work like an adoring fan does.
@@deaddoll1361 which is precisely why I wish he could. You don't have to explain it to me because that was the point I was trying to make?
I am 53 and second that emotion
How very correct you are, Will. I'm older than you, seen and heard a lot of the very best artists this genre has offered up, and Billy Corgan stands above them all, ( along with Bowie, to be fair,)
as innovator, creator, consummate artist in my book, Fab Four and Glimmer Twins included. There's an effortless sonic quality to all the Pumpkins' music that, to my mind, nobody else has equalled and I swear it can put the human heart into a temporary state of frenzy!
Beautifully said.
Rick all your interviews are so great, but this one is exceptionally great. I had no clue how intelligent Billy is. He has several gifts. Brilliant composer and songwriter.
Mayonaise is the greatest smashing pumpkins song. I can’t explain how the song makes me feel. It’s just amazing
For me it’s,
1. 1979
2. Mayonnaise
3. Perfect
4. Luna
5. Tonight, tonight
I know these are all really popular songs but they’re popular for a reason. They’re so good.
You're both wrong, their best songs are Sneil, I am one, Window Paine, Rhinoceros, Cherub Rock Mayonaise and Hummer.
@@alanwashstuff216 I’m wrong for having these songs as MY favorite? I never said these were the best pumpkin songs of all time
@@rubenvela437 I hate to say it, but yes brother. You're wrong, it must be the ones I like since I'm the only one who speaks the absolute truth.
Soma
This video makes me so happy that RUclips, and this channel, exists.
In 2005, long after their popularity peaked, I was a 13 year old kid obsessed with Smashing Pumpkins. Absolutely no one that I knew had even heard of the band and listening to Siamese Dream and quite literally memorizing every note of Mellon Collie, and teaching myself a lot of guitar through both albums, made me feel as powerful as any edgy 13 year old nerd could possibly feel. So seeing my childhood hero talk about how he made the music that shaped me as a young teen is an absolute treasure.
Billy is honestly the GOAT. No other band has touched me more on such an emotional level. Forever an inspiration.
Siamese Dream is easily one of the best albums of 90s. I'd put it somewhere in the top 3 from that decade. Daydream is my favorite song on Gish. The bittersweet happy/sad vibe of that song is gorgeous and overpowering. It was really cool to hear about it and MBV's influence. This was a great interview.
Right on. I'd love to hear what you consider to be at or near the other tops of that decade.
The Pumpkins broke the mold. I am an eighties guy. I was lost with the end of the eighties. Real music was dying, Creativity was crashing like the Hindenburg but the Pumpkins rose from the ashes. The Pumpkins became every thing we loved about the eighties, punk, ,alternitive, new wave, indie, grunge.
It's in my top five albums of that era. Just perfect from start to finish.
Hummer, Soma, Mayonnaise, Silver Fuck, Luna and Sweet Sweet in addition to the songs everyone remembers
Kurt was more popular in his class, but I’d say Billy was more talented. Billy is one of the best musicians from the 90s and it ain’t even close. Completely underrated.
The point Billy was making towards the end of this interview, about musicians needing chops, I disagree with that because of people like Kurt.
For sure Billy has more chops and musical knowledge than Kurt did - if that's what you mean by talented, but they both had that connection with what they wanted to say and the ability to translate that through their instruments.
Billy's songs were more musically adventurous, but personally I count that more like adding colour to musicianship, rather than being musicianship itself - not that you asked, but y'know, that's my opinion.
Absolutely agree
@@Nyghl0i completely agree, the soul of kurts music can’t be whittled down to a quantifiable figure like chops can. Yngwe has all the skill in the world, and not a tear has been shed to even a pluck of a string of his.
Nah man..not underrated at all. Really big here in Europe, saw them several times on big festivals. Jammed on their tunes with my pal Wouter on the piano during our study becoming music teachers. I remember the unusual chordprogression on 'Blank page' f.i. My daughter, now 6, sang 'we only get out at night' when she was 3yrs. Me strumming the G, Dm and C.. Even when I play them chords on the piano right now, she wants me to go on and she sings the words fonetically in tune.. Underrated, what are you talking about Gen Z'er??😂😂😂
@@Nyghl0 Kurt still had enough chops to execute his craft though, which was his point. Kurt may have had the creativity and emotion but he needed his level of chop as a bare minimum.
There isn’t anyone I have more respect and admiration for in music than these two guys. Thank you for setting this up Rick, and for doing this Billy !
@UCK9OvXeWQjyuyKZk1BqOXOA being a misanthrope is a big reason why he's such a great songwriter
@@cygnustsp dudes a born again Christian.
@@infernosdante4557 he's a lot more nuanced than that
@@infernosdante4557 oh God , please tell me that's not true.
@@infernosdante4557 A lot of the comments are missing here. Who is a born again Christian?
I was never a big Pumpkins fan but their songs always caught my attention when they came across the radio. I never expected to spend 90 minutes listening to Billy explain his creative process but his articulation on this topic is absolutely stunning and I was enthralled 5 minutes into this interview. I will now listen with a much deeper appreciation for the art that he has crafted with such thoughtful and careful intent. Thank you Rick and Billy!
This. They were just another band with songs I’d listen to when they came on the radio. What a mind! Fascinating. From a guy who only knows the hits, I was sad when this was over.
Well said! You expressed exactly how I felt!
You perfectly illustrated my thoughts as well. No need for me to add to that!
Siamese Dream is a masterpiece. Mellon Collie is definitely overstuffed but has a lot of great songs too.
Billy is a genius that not many people give the credit he deserves. Definitely one of the bands that shaped my youth as it charged me emotionally full spectrum with such beautiful sonics. It was easy to make entire movies in my mind by listening many of the songs. They were wizards to me back in the day. What he says now about AI, it may happen if culture gives up to quantity over quality. But I think for those who will always appreciate geniuses like him, AI might just be one of those things that make us all appreciate even more the good old days when artists were truly masters of their craft, blood, sweat and tears galore. What this channel is doing with these interviews is to be kept in the history books.
I never knew why I loved Pumpkins so much until watching this interview and, yes, Jimmy Chamberlain is easily in the Top 10 drummers of all time.
Man. This is one of the best interviews in music. So damn good, Rick.
You never explain why it is "one of the best interviews in music."
Rick is just really genuine and clearly loves the music and enjoys the insight - even when Billy makes a snarky comment he just rolls over it and keeps it flowing.
This is one of the best RUclips comments in music.
Billy is all about the intangibles. It is a "feel" and he's a genius at "feel". Those songs are iconic.
57:00 The way Billy seems (wants?) to hug himself immediately after that vocal hits. The way the "bells" chime in. It's all so damn good
Wow I've died and gone to 90s heaven. This is a huge interview. For anybody into this Era of music. It is Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder and Billy Corgan. Those are the guys. It's very generous of him to do this. And kudos to Beato for bringing this together. What a treat.
Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell and Billy Corgan. Hold the Vedder.
Agree
Layne and jerry, tad, king buzzo, all of them too
@@andthensome512 hold the Vedder? He’s the king of them all.
Well, I think layne Staley and the voice of that generation, Chris freaking Cornell are equal to Vedder and Cobain. Corgans vocal talent was not on par with those guys. Sorry. Billy was a great song writer though. According to Billy his only peer was cobain. Sorry, I don't see it. Cornell was king of that era.
Just finished viewing this interview... as many others made by Rick, i find myself with nothing but gratitude and respect, for someone who is on a mission, yes, you read this right RICK BEATO IS ON A MUSIC RESCUE MISSION, he ist showing all of us (past, present and future generations) that what it is not to be teached in music classes, but learned on the process when you take music seriously.
Mr. BEATO: your legacy on this channel and your courses will endure beyond our lifetimes, the copyright fights, the struggle to make people sometimes understand "the beauty of the simple" and "the fun of complicated", are just a few of the many reasons for my personal admiration, once again: THANK YOU
Billy Corgan is one of my Heros, his music, as for many, shaped and influenced me for decades, i hoped for this interview, and enjoyed with great pleasure. Thank you.
Destiny has a plan but i dont know it, i hope she will allow me to meet you one of this days. Lets see what happens... in the meantime i will be doing that "out of hell ear training" of yours...
Till next time, keep on rocking!!!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@RickBeato You and Billy deserve the applause. Thank YOU (plural).
It pains me to hear Billy talk about people criticizing his voice back in the day, when these days I really long for the sound of his voice when he was just coming straight from the heart and not thinking about it as much. (Yes I realize the irony in what I am saying.) I know he's still got it in him. I heard it last year at one of his concerts.
What a masterclass from Billy. Well done Rick on bringing that out of him. The mutual respect was there for all to see. The best interview I've seen from you Rick. Congratulations!
Yeah, Corgan really did make it into of more of a mini master class type of thing. Pretty cool
WOW! I’m 59yo. Smashing Pumpkins was NEVER on my musical dial. I knew they existed, but I was in a MUCH different headspace; never heard ANY of their work. Because of that, I ALMOST, “swiped left”, on this interview, as a, “don’t care”. But…again…Wow! I’m listening to each Smashing Pumpkins tune referenced, as it comes up in in the interview…and WOW! Regret that I wasn’t paying attention back then, but feel totally thrilled that there’s yet another body of crazy smart work, from my era (which I missed for…reason) that I can visit and it’s NEW to me. Thank you, Billy Corgan. Thank you, Rick Beato.😊
It's crazy that you somehow missed them. Back in the 90s, they were everywhere.
I'm jealous you're finding it for the first time. :) What are some of your favourite bands? Maybe I can get them goosebumps too
@@jademonolith Nice! Back then, my head was buried in Jazz & Blues(Wes, Joe, Larry, Lee, Django, Steely Dan, Howlin Wolf, SRV, etc.) as well as Hard Rock & Metal (Scorpions RULE!, Foreigner, Styx, BOC, Zep, etc. The NEWER Stuff (I dug Police, Men at Work, FIXX, Queen) … my tiny young brain was pre-saturated when Smashing Pumpkins hit the scene.
Steely Dan is my FAVE, followed by Little Feat, Subdudes, Grateful Dead, Storyville (David Grissom + Malford Milligan = WIN!), John Prine, Robert Cray, Steve Earle, Jeff Beck, Bonnie Raitt … I’m all over the map, Brother! @Carlosusa24 … your turn. :-)
Scorpions do rule!
Hearing “Cherub Rock” as a freshman in high school was like grabbing a live power wire. SP changed my musical life forever.
Absolutely fantastic interview. Why? Because Rick is genuinely interested in his subject and asks all the right questions, questions I'd love to put to Billy myself. Rick has no ego, is genuinely humble and unaffected and you can see the interviewees warming to him as a result. Billy is slightly cagey at first as he's thinking: here we go, yet another interview with the same questions but he really gets into it as the interview morphs into something else and we see a funny and lighter side to the great man as it progresses. Again, well done Rick.
They caught my ear and the voice was unique. And i still listen to the smashing pumkins today.
Best interview I’ve ever watched. A musician doing an interview with a musician for musicians. It doesn’t get any better.
I'm stoked to see Billy healthy and happy and being the family man he always wanted to be. He sets a great example for us all. Epic musician too!
1:16:18
Gets me everytime I re-watch this:
"oh, they're playing 'Tonight tonight', nothing... crickets" 😂
How can anyone miss that intro? I haven't heard an intro that presents so much rush and tension in a swirl of guitar downstrokes and orchestral flair. Probably one of the most recognizable intros in rock history.
Billy is incredibly articulate and inspiring. He manages to put things into words that I subconsciously feel but could never possibly explain as a producer/songwriter with zero formal training. This is the most interesting and insightful interview I've ever listened to.
Knowing that Billy is watching Rick's channel and is learning from it and trying to solve his problems during composing is really make me happy and shows how far Mr Beato get with his constant love, passion and patient to the real music. Kudos to both of them for this interview, indeed Christmas gift has arrived earlier this year :)
Rick, I never comment on your channel but this is an early Christmas Present! I've watched probably hundreds of Billy Corgan interviews over the years and this one is by far the best. It's not even close. I've waited 30 years for someone to sit down at length and discuss Billy and the Pumpkins' writing/recording process. I've never seen him so relaxed or open and it's a testament to your skill as an interviewer; your love of music and specifically the Pumpkins' music in this case, is on display and your joy is infectious. I absolutely loved this and I can't wait to watch it again. Thank you!
Ya ,but they suck
@@Itsme-ni9jkwhy even be here commenting then? It’s of course perfectly fine that you think that, but I don’t understand why you feel the need to comment. Do you need attention, a hug maybe?
@@matthewdperkins
👎no..not from you...
The old "I never comment but.." comment! HAHAHA! Its so cheesy and no one believes it for a second. It reminds me of the old Trump fake stories "I had a gentleman come up to me in tears...and says "Sir, I never cry but....". smh
@@avidadolares Get well soon
Man. Your depth of understanding and relaxed spontaneity allow you to connect and have even more guarded artists relax and open up like this: it’s such a joy to hear conversations like this.
Billy is amazing. So are you.
Thank you both for this interview.
Rick it’s clear Billy respects your channel. I love how he keys on the types of nuggets your channel enjoy. He’s flows with the stories without asking.
Best Corgan interview of all time. It just breathed humility, authenticity, and vulnerability.
Billy’s intelligence is impossible not to note here. Just in the way he articulates his sentences. I truly think he’s a naturally gifted musical genius
People throw the word "genius" around way too much. Billy Corgan is super talented, but so are 1000s of other musicians.
None of them and I repeat, none of them are geniuses.
@@MetalRob81 sounds like you got a PhD in your own opinion bud
@@eternallife9786 Please just watch or read the biography of Mozrt . That's a musical genius. No way you could compare the two.
@@uknowme1811there's no way you can compare the two as you compare the two, now that's funny
@@uknowme1811 who is the term musical genius is an incredibly broad terminology you can say it about singer songwriters and their ability to just keep making great songs you could say it about the Beatles in the way they expanded modern music, the term musical genius isn't complacent to one era of music
That's a profound statement he made regarding mimicking certain bands. When he said he's not trying to sound like Sabbath, but he wants to convey the way Sabbath makes you feel. I'm not sure I've ever heard an artist put it that way before but it's spot on.
Remember when MTV used to do this? Now, they are a shadow of their former self. I’m glad there are people like Rick who make this type of amazing content. Keep up the great work 👏🏻
I saw them in concert. On 10/21/2022 with my 26 year old daughter. Mellon collie and the infinite sadness was such a great album. In 1996 when she was born. It was so special to share this experience with her. “Tonight, tonight” has a line. “And our lives are forever changed. We will never be the same.” Had such meaning for me. As I held my new born daughter. While watching mtv and feeling this song. So meaningful it was as if billy was speaking to me.