Post by AlmostOz on Jul 9, 2009 5:37:46 GMT 7
In response to "Pumpkins by Any Other Name"
July 8, 2009 | 208 Views
Billy Corgan took it upon himself to post a response to Supervajra's recent article, "Pumpkins by Any Other Name." His response is below.
I really appreciate this article, and I commend Supervajra for having the courage to write it. Addressing the 'who's in the band' concept on this website is not the easiest thing for anyone to do. Afterall, I am not really telling anyone much about what I am up to these days, and we are all a far ways away from what the cozy alternative music scene was like in the late 80's. I certainly didn't think when I started up with James Iha at my dad's house in 1987 I would be where I am today (musically, spiritually, emotionally).
The idea of identity is a strange one to tackle. For many years, I treated the idea of the band named The Smashing Pumpkins as an existential concept that exsisted away from my being and body. It was sort of 'over there', if you will. Jimmy leaving in 1996 made me deal quite heavily with the concept of loyalty to the 2 members who were left (James and D'arcy) as our relationships at that time were quickly drifting apart. And so on, and so forth, thru the different people coming and going. In the center of any of it has been for me, speaking personally, my music. Yes, MY music. The music that came out of this being and body. I've called the umbrella the songs came out under different names but to me I guess there really wasn't a whole lot of difference. As they say, a song is a song.
What the future holds is unknown to me. I am 100pct committed to the future of SP. I can tell you that. 100pct!! I've never been happier about being in SP, or a part of SP, than I am now. The music I am making sounds like The Smashing Pumpkins. It doesn't sound like solo work, I can assure you of that. But only when you hear the music can you decide for yourself. I'm not worried, because I know most of you are rooting for me to get it right. I want to get it right, but not for you, for me. Its been a long journey to get back to where I started. There have been many sad days along the road, but honestly, these are really happy days.
We've all seen over the past 2 weeks what happens when a man loses touch with his hope, his spirit, and his music. The path I am on is one of feeling reborn by my love for my music. I wasn't really deep down sure I could get back here, but I am here.
I will never say to you what people say to me all the time, which is that 'I am the band'. I am not 'the band', I am just the leader of the band. I only want people around me who respect me and my music. I think that is a healthy thing to want, and is consistent with the ideas of holistic living. What would you say about me if I worked with people who didn't care about me or my music? Isn't that a form of selling out?
There is a lot of discomfort as we watch our world change quite quickly before our eyes. Familiarity breeds a sort of security, but it also breeds contempt. If you know anything about me, you should know you won't catch me. Smashing Pumpkins is not a concept 'over there' anymore. Its where it has always been. Right HERE.
Get it? Got it? Good! (Wrestling catch phrase from B.G. James)
Love always from one of my 701 personalities
BC!
