Billy Corgan Doesn’t Want ‘Nicey Nice’ Version of Smashing Pumpkins

Part of what makes Billy Corgan an intriguing artist lies in his candid assessment of his music as well as his innate unpredictability. In a revealing interview with Crestfallen, Corgan expressed his displeasure with the Smashing Pumpkins' current direction.

"I don't really know what makes sense any more," said Corgan. "I think you have to come to a place where you say, if you continue you continue with a particular vision, not keep rolling with the tide. Because the tide as it is I don't think it's that great. I'm not saying that the audience isn't great, or that the band isn't great. Something about it all feels a little too nicey nice. I'm not in a rock and roll band to be nice nice. It's just not my thing."

Although the band received solid reviews with last year's release of 'Oceania,' Corgan admitted that some groups from the '90s just don't play with the same passion as before. This complacency, which is rooted in their own varying degrees of success as well as the repetitive nature of rolling out their own songs, is not conducive to growth. "I'm part of the problem," said Corgan. "And I don't know if I want to continue to be part of the problem."

As the owner of Madam Zuzu's Tea House in Highland Park, Ill. and founder of his own wrestling organization, Corgan has a ton of activities to keep him busy. He's also writing a memoir, so his recent comments may have fans worried about Smashing Pumpkins' future. Corgan, however, remains undeterred regarding his group's statuts.

"There's no doubt in my mind that there is still plenty of Smashing Pumpkins music to be made," he added. "No matter what anybody thinks, because I believe, as the architect of what worked, pick your era, I believe I can make it work with any combination of anybody if I really want to. Maybe that sounds insane, but that's the way I look at it."