EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 1H 30M
Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins
from Lipps Service with Scott Lipps · host Audio Up, Inc.
Billy Corgan joins Scott Lipps on SPIN Magazine's Lipps Service for a deep chronological conversation covering his upbringing in Chicago, discovering guitar, the formation of the Smashing Pumpkins, Gish, Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Courtney Love, Melissa Auf der Maur, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Lollapalooza, modern rock, Yungblud, SOMBR, and much more. Billy also shares his favorite Smashing Pumpkins songs, reflects on the competitive nature of the grunge era, discusses hearing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time, and explains the stories behind classics including "1979," "Tonight, Tonight," and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings." Hosted by Scott Lipps. Subscribe for more interviews with the biggest names in music. #BillyCorgan #SmashingPumpkins #LippsService #SPINMagazine #Nirvana #KurtCobain #CourtneyLove #PearlJam #OzzyOsbourne #BlackSabbath #podcast #alternative 00:53 — Billy Corgan on KISS 03:10 — Why Rush Was So Important 07:14 — Dealing With Critics 09:30 — Critics, Success & The Beach Boys 11:55 — His Podcast, Ratt & Mötley Crüe's Importance 14:29 — Lollapalooza, Hole & The Alternative Explosion 16:12 — Growing Up in Chicago 17:10 — "It Wasn't Uncommon..." (Early Chicago Stories) 18:25 — His Father & Learning Guitar 22:23 — The Marked, Guitar Shredding & Yngwie Malmsteen 24:35 — Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne & Heavy Metal Legacy 30:13 — Why Cheap Trick Matters 35:40 — The First Smashing Pumpkins Gig & Jimmy Chamberlin 40:47 — Gish & Finding His Voice 46:04 — Steve Albini 48:20 — Siamese Dream, Darkness & Creative Pressure 53:36 — The Competitive Nature of Nirvana & Pearl Jam 54:34 — The Story Behind "Today" 56:29 — Hearing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" For The First Time 58:06 — Kurt Cobain 1:03:11 — Mellon Collie and the Grunge Movement 1:05:14 — The Story Behind "1979" 1:07:49 — "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" 1:11:31 — "Tonight, Tonight" 1:12:36 — The Death of Zero 1:16:37 — Melissa Auf der Maur 1:18:09 — Courtney Love, Celebrity Skin & The Press 1:26:12 — SOMBR, Yungblud & Modern Rock 1:32:58 — Billy Corgan's Favorite Smashing Pumpkins Songs 1:35:00 — Top 5 Smashing Pumpkins Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Billy Corgan joins Scott Lipps on SPIN Magazine's Lipps Service for a deep chronological conversation covering his upbringing in Chicago, discovering guitar, the formation of the Smashing Pumpkins, Gish, Siamese Dream, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Kurt Cobain, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Courtney Love, Melissa Auf der Maur, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Lollapalooza, modern rock, Yungblud, SOMBR, and much more. Billy also shares his favorite Smashing Pumpkins songs, reflects on the competitive nature of the grunge era, discusses hearing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time, and explains the stories behind classics including "1979," "Tonight, Tonight," and "Bullet With Butterfly Wings." Hosted by Scott Lipps. Subscribe for more interviews with the biggest names in music. #BillyCorgan #SmashingPumpkins #LippsService #SPINMagazine #Nirvana #KurtCobain #CourtneyLove #PearlJam #OzzyOsbourne #BlackSabbath #podcast #alternative 00:53 — Billy Corgan on KISS 03:10 — Why Rush Was So Important 07:14 — Dealing With Critics 09:30 — Critics, Success & The Beach Boys 11:55 — His Podcast, Ratt & Mötley Crüe's Importance 14:29 — Lollapalooza, Hole & The Alternative Explosion 16:12 — Growing Up in Chicago 17:10 — "It Wasn't Uncommon..." (Early Chicago Stories) 18:25 — His Father & Learning Guitar 22:23 — The Marked, Guitar Shredding & Yngwie Malmsteen 24:35 — Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne & Heavy Metal Legacy 30:13 — Why Cheap Trick Matters 35:40 — The First Smashing Pumpkins Gig & Jimmy Chamberlin 40:47 — Gish & Finding His Voice 46:04 — Steve Albini 48:20 — Siamese Dream, Darkness & Creative Pressure 53:36 — The Competitive Nature of Nirvana & Pearl Jam 54:34 — The Story Behind "Today" 56:29 — Hearing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" For The First Time 58:06 — Kurt Cobain 1:03:11 — Mellon Collie and the Grunge Movement 1:05:14 — The Story Behind "1979" 1:07:49 — "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" 1:11:31 — "Tonight, Tonight" 1:12:36 — The Death of Zero 1:16:37 — Melissa Auf der Maur 1:18:09 — Courtney Love, Celebrity Skin & The Press 1:26:12 — SOMBR, Yungblud & Modern Rock 1:32:58 — Billy Corgan's Favorite Smashing Pumpkins Songs 1:35:00 — Top 5 Smashing Pumpkins Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins
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