EPISODE · Mar 26, 2026 · 1H 5M

Melissa Auf der Maur

from Lipps Service with Scott Lipps · host Audio Up, Inc.

On this episode of SPIN Presents Lipps Service with Scott Lipps, Scott sits down with alternative rock icon Melissa Auf der Maur. Best known for her time in Hole during the Live Through This era and later with The Smashing Pumpkins alongside Billy Corgan, Melissa takes us inside one of the most defining moments in music history — the 1990s alternative explosion. Melissa opens up about playing on Courtney Love’s new record, the possibility of a Hole reunion, her decision to step away from music, and her life today in upstate New York. She reflects on growing up in Montreal, her first musical memories, and how she discovered her voice through bass and photography. The conversation dives deep into her relationships with Courtney Love, Billy Corgan, Dave Grohl, and Jeff Buckley, along with firsthand stories from the Nirvana era, the feminist movement in rock, and the raw energy of Hole’s early shows. Melissa also discusses her new memoir Even the Good Girls Will Cry, featuring never-before-seen photos and personal stories from inside the 90s alternative scene. Plus — Top 5 Hole songs, Smashing Pumpkins songs, and bass players. #hole #alternative #smashingpumpkins #courtneylove #90s #bass #melissaaufdermaur 0:00 Intro 1:17 Courtney Love’s New Record 3:39 Why the Book Now? 6:15 Hole Reunion? 7:24 Life Upstate / Stepping Away from Music 11:10 Growing Up in Montreal 13:52 First Musical Memory / First Record 15:00 Family Background 18:00 Finding the Bass 22:05 Billy Corgan & Courtney Love as Constants 23:00 Smashing Pumpkins Era 24:30 Joining Hole 26:57 First Hole Shows 28:00 Nirvana, Pumpkins & Feminism 34:34 Inside Hole’s Dynamic 36:45 Celebrity Skin / Patty Schemel 39:58 Joining The Smashing Pumpkins 42:49 Dave Grohl 45:03 Jeff Buckley 47:00 Hole Reunion (Again) 48:13 Top 5 Hole Songs 51:55 Top 5 Smashing Pumpkins Songs 53:20 Top 5 Bass Players 54:00 The Photo Book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices