-
We have a problem with any labels that people try to hang on us, because all it does is drag you down.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins -
Part of the reason that I left the Pumpkins is because it was becoming all-consuming. Being the only member of that band who had two kids and a wife, it was a hard decision, but ultimately it was a decision I'm comfortable with.
Jimmy Chamberlin The Smashing Pumpkins
-
No, I've heard over the years that it's nice for them to see somebody who's like, you know, a well-known successful musician who's Asian. I've heard it from a few musicians, too.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
It's about the girlfriend who left me last year. I tried to put all my anger in those words, even though I'm just as much to blame for the break-up. 'Soma' is based on the idea that a love relationship is almost the same as opium: it slowly puts you to sleep, it soothes you, and gives you the illusion of sureness and security. Very deceivable.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins -
It's hard enough to make a good song and a good recording of that song. But to try to tailor it to some outside force is just like - It's never been a factor in what I've done or what the band's done.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
After 12 intense years of rock music, I was happy to get away from making a record and going out on a tour. When I did it, I wanted to feel inspired. After a while I finally had my fill working on other people's music, and I started coming up with music on my own and said, 'This could be for me.'
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
I love a lot of the New York bands, but Patti Smith stands out. I just read 'Just Kids' and it's an inspirational, well-written account of an emerging New York artist in the late seventies.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
The closer I get back to being who I really am, the stronger the music gets.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins
-
I get more out of life just being myself, by just being a human being. Not by being a rock star, not by being whatever. Sometimes I act like a jerk, but I think people respect me for being myself. That's the ultimate thing about the Smashing Pumpkins.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins -
My earliest memory is of feeling different. My parents told me that I wasn't like other children.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins -
I like the challenges of doing different things. It keeps things fresh for me.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
I feel really good in the teacher role.
Jimmy Chamberlin The Smashing Pumpkins -
I left the Pumpkins in 2010, and I just took a year off to hang with my family and be with my daughter and my son and my wife, and just get acclimatised to being off the road. Then I started looking at what was going to be the next part of my career/legacy, whatever you want to call it.
Jimmy Chamberlin The Smashing Pumpkins -
I play and I've played in heavy bands, but when I write for myself, I don't particularly feel like writing huge rock riffs. It just doesn't work for me and my voice.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins
-
Musicians always come off sounding a little bit pretentious, and a little bit... I don't know, hypocritical, from what they do, talking about strong issues.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
I like a lot of different kinds of music. I like strong projects, big music.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
Life is everything and nothing all at once.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins -
About six months ago, I listened to Siamese Dream. That was the first time I'd ever really heard my own album, because I had separated from the experience of making the record. And it really moved me. It made me cry, it's so beautiful.
Billy Corgan The Smashing Pumpkins -
You know, it's going to be a really long tour, and well, I guess I'll see what happens with A Perfect Circle, 'cause they do other projects too, and I don't know. I hope I can always do a lot of different things, do 'em well.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
So there was something of a learning curve with doing your own thing and people seeing you outside of the band. I mean, people have never really heard my voice before - or heard a whole record of mine before. So it was a completely new experience.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins
-
Had I joined a straight rock band, I'm sure my drumming would be a little bit different right now.
Jimmy Chamberlin The Smashing Pumpkins -
All the bands I've played with have had dynamic front men.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
The band set up in January and just started rehearsing. If there was a song, we'd just rehearse it as a band, and it would get arranged as a band, and it got changed around a lot.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins -
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago.
James Iha The Smashing Pumpkins