You can’t help but respect the dude’s integrity, but Billy…Billy, Billy, Billy. Who’s hurt you so? Very recently we heard reports of Corgan’s less-than-admirable opinion of Radiohead, but today we find out he even hated his own band members.
In a recent interview with The Grunge Report, the Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman unleashed when asked about his previous bandmates, in particular Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha. Neither were featured on the latest Pumpkins’ album Oceania, but both played pivotal roles in the band prior to the release.
When asked about Chamberlin (who played drums only to quit, rejoin and quit again, stating that “he couldn’t just cash the check”- in other words, he was of the persuasion that the primary motive behind the band was to make money) Corgan responded: “…Here is a perfect opportunity for me to bury Jimmy as a fucking liar. But I won’t…That’s a lie. That statement’s just a flat-out lie.”
Now, on to the topic of the original guitarist, James Iha, according to Billy he “is just a piece of shit…I think he’s one of the worst human beings I’ve ever met in my life”. He justified the brutal assault with: “If there’s any fucking culprit in this, it’s Iha. But y’know, he was there at the right time in my life. We did do good things together. I think he is a good musician when he gives a fuck, which most of the time he doesn’t. And that’s about it.”
On a more peaceful side, Corgan seems somewhat indifferent to bassist D’arcy Wretzky, wishing her no specific harm despite many lawsuits between the two, and her many entanglements with the law due to drugs: “But she’s not a bad person. And I don’t hold any ill will towards her, even though I’ve had to deal with fucking lawsuits and stuff like that.”
Hopefully Corgan feels better now that he has this off his chest, and can continue working in peace. Though it will be interesting what the aforementioned exes say in retaliation; whatever they say, you can be sure it’ll really rustle Billy’s jimmies. Who knows what will come out during their performance at this year’s Splendour in the Grass.
