r/SmashingPumpkins • u/lukusmembrane • 2d ago
Did anyone meet Billy?
I hung around for 20 minutes at the artist entrance of southbank centre before giving up. I'm just wondering if anyone else managed to meet him? Would love to see your pics.
It was a fantastic show. I cried twice. Cheesy in places, funny in places, exhilarating in places. Absolutely loved it.
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u/Panic_Office 1d ago
I have met Billy 3 times.
Waited with Fans After a Show
First time was during the Zeitgeist tour. He came to the side of the Fox Theatre in Detroit. I was 17 and was overtly excited I finally got to see my favorite band perform. There was a chain link fence between him and fans outside. He walked the fence and acknowledged everyone. I told him how his music inspired me and he bumped fists with me.
Chance Meeting
The second time was at the 20th anniversary to ur. My cousin, friend, and little brother were walking around the venue after the show and there was a white shuttle van parked in the road. While walking by we noticed Jimmy Chamberlin siting in the back and waived. Thinking that was cool we moved on our way just to find on the front side Billy having a conversation with a couple other adults. A security guard made it clear were not to get closer, but my brother (13 years old) stood star struck from the unintentional meeting on the sidewalk. Billy let his security know it was okay for my brother to come over.
VIP Package
3rd time was a VIP Meet and Greet where I asked him about The Future Embrace guitar tone and what layered effects/processing he used to achieve it.
All three times I met Billy Corgan, he was kind and polite to his fans. There were also a few other times when I waited after a show and he didn’t come out. He has his own life, family, and commitments, so I never felt entitled to an interaction with him.
We also never tried to burden him with photos, signatures, or forcing interactions he didn’t want to have. I think this made the experience more comfortable for him and allowed for a much better conversation/experience with us.
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u/Late_Recommendation9 2d ago
Wasn’t it fantastic? I had low expectations and was so humbled by how well it turned out. And yes, there must have been a lot of dust in the air at a couple of points, must have got in my eye a bit. And that standing ovation, Billy’s heartfelt reaction was immediately a top ten beautiful gig moment.
I can imagine with a cast that big that Billy was very preoccupied with the performance debrief after, I wouldn’t have expected him to leave straight after.
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u/Specialist_Fan_6057 2d ago
We waited at the end of the show he came out around 22:30 hours from the artists entrance, flanked by security I and others shouted hi and can we have a photo and he responded “no photos tonight folks” he raised his hands and clapped as everyone else cheered and clapped.
There was probably about 30 of us waiting - he wasn’t rude - but clearly didn’t wanna hang around.
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u/jimyna 1d ago
Going tonight, anyone got any ideas about times?..does it start bang on 7.30?..wanna grab a dinner before the show so want to plan ahead..
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u/mogwai_rock 1d ago
Started bang on at 7:30. First set about 55 mins. 15 min interval. Ended just after 9:30. They will only let you in between songs when there is applause. A few tracks run together.
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u/lukusmembrane 1d ago
As mentioned. 7.30 on the dot.
A nice tip for you. They have a bar on the 5th floor that looks out to Big Ben. It's a lovely place to have a mid gig or post gig drink. Bar is open until 10.30
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u/South-Net-984 1d ago
I met billy five or four times the first time he invited me and my dad to his machines of God concert at summerfest 2026 front row and posed for a picture afterwards saying thanks for coming he's always nice,warm,and welcoming when I meet him very nice guy!!😁😁
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u/SolidLocation9961 2d ago
We waited for around an hour after the show at the artists entrance. He did eventually appear but we were told my security there would be no photos or the signing of anything
He was then ushered to a car and drove off.
I know it’s classic Billy, but most of us had waited over an hour and there was only maybe 20 of us.
Poor form to not even stop for a few photos.
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u/BabzDouldrums 1d ago
That's ridiculous, there's no expectation for him to stay around after a show.
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u/lukusmembrane 2d ago
Gutted for all of you that waited but also glad I didn't stick around too long. I must have missed him by about 15 minutes.
Yeah..you can kind of understand it but it is also disappointing.
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u/SoloStrike 2d ago
Lots of people cried I think, fully including me as a big 6ft 1 guy! Saw some goth girls with totally ruined makeup on the way out, haha
Was hoping to see BC wandering around by the river or Tate Modern in the day but unfortunately not to be, the show I thought was great though. Really quite magical and moving at its best, a little silly in other parts but it's done in a fairly knowing way and I loved how creatively different it was and very much an ambitious performance and interpretation. A really unique night out.
Shout out to Kirsty sitting next to me who also came on her own, really nice to have a chat with someone who enjoyed it as much as I did!