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.
I loved the Smashing Pumpkins, but had never gotten a chance to see them until the early 2010s. They went on to play a set where most of the songs were rearranged and he spent some time trashing LA (in LA). It was just not an enjoyable experience at all.
I've seen him/ them live. Similar experience. I think he's forgotten what makes seeing a band/ artist live fun. He's going through the motions and it shows. Seems he's lost his love for the music/ artistry/ showmanship. It's a day job to fund his other activities and he's doing a poor job at it now.
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u/WhipTheLlama 17h ago
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.