Billy Corgan has reunited with his former flame-turned arch nemesis-turned friend, Courtney Love, live onstage as part of The Smashing Pumpkins‘ star-studded 30th anniversary concert extravaganza.
“I do remember the day we met this young lady. She was in this band called Hole. They had a few minor indie hits and then just faded into obscurity. I jest,” Corgan told the crowd before introducing his “dearest friend”, the grunge kween, to the stage to perform two Hole tracks live with the reunited Pumpkins lineup (sans D’arcy Wreztky).
“One of my favourite people in the world,” he continued. “We’ve made love, we’ve not made love, we’ve made up, we’ve broken up, but we’re back together again, like George and Tammy.”
Meanwhile, Love called Corgan her “nemesis, best friend, lover”.
“And what a lover!” she continued. “I asked for permission to say that – worst friend, best friend, protector, career maker. I love this man with all my soul.”
TMI? Possibly, but it was a sweet moment considering the pair’s chequered past (Smashing Pumpkins songs ‘Where Boys Fear To Tread’, ‘Bodies’ and potentially most of Siamese Dream were all reportedly inspired by Corgan’s rocky relationship with Love).
They teamed up on stage for Hole’s smash hits ‘Celebrity Skin’ and ‘Malibu’ – both of which were co-written by the Corganator – and Love also remained onstage to assist with vocals for the Pumpkins monster hit ‘Bullet With Butterfly Wings’.
“Only the chorus on this, right?” she asked, admitting she didn’t actually know the rest of the lyrics.
Love also took part in the show’s all-star finale rendition of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ alongside bassist Peter Hook and AFI frontman Davey Havok.
The Pumpkins’ star-studded 30th anniversary gig in New Jersey also included cameos from Deftones’ Chino Moreno, the Killers’ Dave Keuning and Mark Stoermer, plus Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, who joined the Pumpkins for a rendition of his band’s hit ‘Fly’ (LOL!).
The random team-up also covered Judas Priest’s classic ‘Breaking the Law’ because YOLO?
Watch some of the fan-shot footage below.
