BillyCorgan

Billy Corgan talks creative process, being more dangerous than ever

Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan recently opened up about feeling free and “more dangerous” than ever in an interview with The Creative Independent.

“It’s funny because I’m actually more dangerous than I’ve ever been, but no one perceives me as dangerous,” Corgan says.

Read more: Billy Corgan says “truth will win out” regarding “false” news over Smashing Pumpkins reunion

Corgan discusses the importance of trying not to be affected by others' opinions of his music. “You have to reach a point where that no longer affects the work…” he points out, “but don’t believe any artist who tells you they’re not affected.” 

The musician goes on to say that he finally feels free of the pressure and that makes him more dangerous than he's ever been.

“I feel a little bit like a spy in the henhouse. I’m actually very dangerous right now because I am totally free. It’s weird to say it, but I know it and that’s it,” he reflects. “Look, I’m going to make something. I’m going to know that it’s valuable, and I’m so certain of its value that it doesn’t matter if anybody values it. That is the ultimate freedom. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a sentient consciousness and that you would prefer it to be seen.”

“If you’re going to come off the ego mountain and go to a level of a human sentience, awareness, you have to accept that your work is no more valuable than anyone else’s, than the work of those people whose names you don’t know,” he continues. “As long as you can sit there—which is hard to do when you’re in this realm—but as long as you can sit there then you can come to a place of, 'I’m going to put this all in the right perspective, and I’m gonna roll with that.' Then I think it’s a good place to be.”

During the interview, Corgan also talked at length about his creative process and how his experience making music has evolved over the years.

After plenty of back-and-forth regarding Smashing Pumpkins' reunion, Corgan revealed that “the truth will win out in the end.”

Earlier this month, Corgan said the band were in the final stages of two new EPs. As previously reported, Corgan is also working on a solo album that's “currently between 16 and 18 songs.”

The band will be headed out on their “Shiny And Oh So Bright” tour this summer, which just so happens to be their first tour in nearly 20 years.

Check out the full list of cities and dates below!

Dates:
07/12 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
07/14 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Energy Arena
07/16 – Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
07/17 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
07/18 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
07/20 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
07/21 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
07/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Infinite Energy Aerna
07/24 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
07/25 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
07/27 – Baltimore, MD @ Royal Farms Arena
07/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
07/29 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
07/31 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
08/01 – New York City, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/04 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
08/05 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
08/07 – Montreal, QC @ Centre Bell
08/08 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
08/11 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
08/13 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
08/16 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
08/17 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
08/19 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
08/20 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
08/21 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford Premier Center
08/24 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
08/25 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
08/27 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
08/28 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
08/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
09/01 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
09/02 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
09/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
09/05 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
09/07 – Boise, ID @ Ford Idaho Center