Billy Corgan: Biography

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Born:

Mar 17, 1967 in Elk Grove, IL

Genres:

Rock Music, Alternative Rock Music

Decades Active:

1990's|2000's

As the guitarist/singer/head-songwriter for Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan was one of alt-rock's leaders and focal points for much of the '90s. Born on March 17, 1967, in Elk Grove, IL, Corgan's first true exposure to music was from his father, who was a blues guitarist. After his parents divorced at an early age, Corgan moved from one relative to the next, and by age 14, he began playing guitar himself (citing such hard rock bands as Cheap Trick and Van Halen as important early influences). In 1985, Corgan formed his first real band, the Marked, and moved from Chicago to St. Petersburg, FL. Although the group was onto an original style (a merger between alternative and metal), Corgan moved back to Chicago after they split up a few months later.

Working at a record store, Corgan began putting the pieces together for his next band, which would be the Smashing Pumpkins. He befriended guitarist James Iha and bassist D'Arcy, and the three started to play in bars and clubs around the Chicago-area with a drum machine in place of a real drummer. But from the advice of a friend, Corgan checked out local jazz fusion drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, who immediately landed the gig with his powerful, John Bonham-esque drumming style (the band's first show was opening for Jane's Addiction). Like the Marked, the Pumpkins merged alternative with metal, but also gave it a psychedelic and experimental twist. Several independent singles led to a deal with Caroline Records, who issued their debut, Gish, in 1991. A woefully underrated guitarist, Corgan's wild, Jimi Hendrix-esque playing was an integral part of the early-Pumpkins sound.

With each subsequent album (1993's classic Siamese Dream, 1995's double-album Mellon Collie), the Pumpkins grew in popularity, until they were one of rock's top dogs by the mid- to late '90s. A very proficient songwriter, Corgan also contributed songs to movie soundtracks (Lost Highway), as well as supplying the musical score for such movies as Stigmata and Ransom. In addition, he's also produced albums for such other artists as Ric Ocasek, Hole, and Catherine. After the Pumpkins split in 2000, many assumed Corgan would automatically pursue a solo career, but shortly after playing several shows with New Order as a sideman/guitarist in the summer of 2001, Corgan announced his next project would be a new band. Called Zwan, the quartet features Corgan joined by former bandmate Chamberlin on drums, as well as former Chavez singer/guitarist Matt Sweeney, and a gentleman going by the name of Skullfisher on bass. The new group played a string of West Coast dates late in the year, and their debut album is set for release sometime in 2002.

- Greg Prato, All Music Guide