Billy Corgan 2011 Interview with Matt Pinfield on the Gish and Siamese Dream Reissues & Oceania

The Smashing Pumpkins' first two releases, Gish & Siamese Dream, are getting the fully remastered treatment. EMI Music is set to release both reissues on November 29 in North America and December 5 internationally.

In celebration of these releases, Matt Pinfield recently sat down with Billy Corgan for a lengthy conversation. Here's a quick synopsis of what can be found in each segment:

Segment 1 - This portion contains a wide-range of topics including (1) the reason for the reissues (2) working with Bob Ludwig (3) Billy's relationship with the rest of the band (4) putting the Gish-era in perspective (5) "Drown" and the "Singles" soundtrack

Segment 2 - This portion includes (1) working with Butch Vig (2) picking out songs for the bonus discs (3) the song "Honeyspider" and the influence of shoegazer music (4) putting the Siamese Dream-era in perspective (5) the internal relationships between band members during Siamese Dream (6) James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky's influence on the band's musical direction

Segment 3 - This portion discusses (1) the song "Siamese Dream" (2) the true meaning of the band's name (3) the packaging of the reissues (4) the accompanying DVD performances from The Metro in Chicago (5) the influence of the Alt Rock movement on Billy (6) what the Billy of today would tell the Billy of the early '90s (7) bonus track differences from Pisces Iscariot

Segment 4 - This features Billy discussing select tracks from Gish, including "I Am One," "Rhinoceros," "Siva," "Bury Me," and "Tristessa"

Segment 5 - This features Billy discussing select tracks from Siamese Dream, including "Cherub Rock," "Today," "Disarm," "Rocket," "Geek U.S.A.," "Quiet," "Mayonaise," and "Spaceboy."The discussion gets particularly intimate with Billy discussing the relationship with his father and being an abused child.

Segment 6 - Looking to the future, Billy discusses the new Smashing Pumpkins release, Oceania, coming out in 2012 and its roots in progressive rock.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Both the Gish and Siamese Dream reissues are full of bonus content and special features that were curated from the band's archives by founding member Billy Corgan and have been painstakingly remastered for the first time from the original master tapes by Bob Ludwig.

Deluxe versions of Gish and Siamese Dream will each include a bonus disc of rare and previously unreleased audio content, plus a never-before-released live show from the Metro in Chicago on DVD. The 10-song live show in the Gish package is from 8/25/90; the 17-song live show in the Siamese Dream package is from 8/14/93. The Gish bonus disc will include brand new Butch Vig mixes of the original Sub Pop single tracks "Tristessa" and "La Dolly Vita." Housed in special lift-top box packaging, the deluxe versions feature liner notes and track by track commentary from Corgan, never-before-seen collages and photos, postcards and more.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Smashing Pumpkins
• Billy Corgan
• Interview
• Matt Pinfield
• Gish
• Siamese Dream
• Reissues
• 2011

[skylilly1]

I agree with Billy about parents not being around as we were growing up. I never had a curfew and my parents never questioned me on anything. I was lucky to make it out alive as were allot of my friends..I felt like a nomad and on my own most of my youth and teen years,,but looking back on it now..I felt free somehow...Great interview! I bought my reissues last week.

[bystarlightsite]

@skylilly1 That's awesome! I'm really looking forward to the next reissues and all the background history that comes with them :) Your upbringing sounds really similar to mine. I don't think I would have it any other way. I only feel accountable to myself, really independent and I don't have problems making decisions heh

[guitareclipse1]

So did I hear correctly at the 4:12 mark that the relationship between Billy and Jimmy soured right along with James and D'Arcy? It's no secret about those two, but I kind of wasn't under the impression that Jimmy was viewed in that boat, even after the fact. I thought that was kind of an amicable split. Anyone know anything more about that? They were pretty tight lipped about it - artist integrity, respect, blah blah blah, but Jimmy kind of got lumped in there with an umbrella statement...

[bystarlightsite]

@guitareclipse1 Yes, if you listen to this other great interview from BBC Masterpieces - Billy elaborates a bit more on what happened with Jimmy. He said that the split in 2009 was a romance that had run its course and described it as a wonderful relationship that came to an end. He went on to say that he supports Jimmy's decision and his pursuit of his own musical journey.

Here is the interview: plus . google . com/u/0/102163154128750127112/­videos

[stubabb]

If Billy does interviews like this for the "Pisces Iscariot","Mellon Collie" etc Reissues, i will explode with excitement!

[dreamhelix]

I agree completely with the child abuse comments. People seem to need a certificate of authenticity instead of just valuing the integrity of art itself. Very good interview.

[TwilightFadez]

16:00 - Was the only part that made me go O_O attention-wise. Finally something new and relevant. He talks music and the new version [release] of Spaceboy. A minute or two before the 16 mark was interesting too. About alternative solo of Cherub Rock. 29:30 - gets interesting again.

[ObscuredJellybelly]

This is great! Thank you so much!

[PorkSodaOnTheRocks]

One of the best interviews in SP history

[anc32685]

I <3 all the interviews!!! Thanks for posting them!!! I <3 Smashing Pumpkins!