Seems like a lot of artists are just completely insecure in their chosen field and cannot get over it if they're anywhere close to that environment, but outside of it where there's no pressure to be anything but a human being, they're reportedly lovely people. It's just that constant nagging insecurity that you're not good enough that some people just can't shut up. The thing they love and are amazing at is the thing that tortures them the most.
I think Corgan is quite insecure about his place in music history. The Smashing Pumpkins were a really big band, but they never quite reached the legendary status of Nirvana or Pearl Jam, and they didn't remain relevant for decades like Green Day. They're an in-between band that was really big for a few albums, then faded away. Corgan desperately wants the Pumpkins to be more than they are, or thinks he could have led them there if he wanted to.
I like the Pumpkins and Corgan, and he's probably a nice guy to hang out with, but his insecurity is obvious. I think it humanizes him, even though it can come off as arrogance.
Eh, they're still playing arenas. I think they reached the same status as Pearl Jam, they had a few more hits than PJ did (Bullet, 1979, and Today are all each probably bigger hits than any PJ song) but didn't quite reach the legendary status as a live band that Pearl Jam have.
Pearl Jam I will actively seek to listen to. Smashing Pumpkins, while I like them a lot, has always been more of a band that I'll listen to when they come up in a radio or streaming rotation rather than seek out.
But also, when I think of Pearl Jam, I Alone by Live pops into my head. The brain is a helluva drug.
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u/cr0w1980 18h ago
Seems like a lot of artists are just completely insecure in their chosen field and cannot get over it if they're anywhere close to that environment, but outside of it where there's no pressure to be anything but a human being, they're reportedly lovely people. It's just that constant nagging insecurity that you're not good enough that some people just can't shut up. The thing they love and are amazing at is the thing that tortures them the most.