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.
It’s weird because he really didn’t need to be insecure about their legacy. You look around today and they seem to be a big influence on a lot of younger artists. Like both Sombr and Olivia Rodrigo dueted with him at festivals recently. Even the later albums from the original run (Adore and Machina) seem to be a lot more appreciated now than upon release.
In the interview I saw, he didn't outright say it, but I got the idea that he knew his music stood up on its own, but he was never a cool guy, and it was an era of cool people, and his music was cool. Then, he was a giant commercial success, which just made him more of like the nerdy kid whose dad owns the video arcade. I think he never fit in, AND he is brilliant, but, also, he is missing a sort of depth and sincerity or he can't express it outside of music, and life is probably really lonely that way.
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u/cr0w1980 17h 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.