9:04 pm // Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Posted by susan in postchildren.trackback
Billy Corgan on whether he would perform with the original members of Smashing Pumpkins: “There’s a wonderful book called A Course in Miracles. You can expect miracles to happen. I don’t think they have anything to offer me musically. I’d be much more interested in [mending] the personal relationships with them. Without that, the other situation doesn’t have juice for me.”
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That last question is hella ballsy
If he’s interested in “mending the personal relationships with them”, then he’s not helping much by constantly talking shit about them publicly.
I think the more appropriate question is, would the other original members perform with him? Jimmy I could see, but the other two, not so much.
Jimmy was bashed to death in 09/2010… He has burned those bridges but like 34 pointed out, would they bother to mend things with Billy?
My question is, if and or when, The Smashing Pumpkins are inducted in the Rock N Roll hall of fame, they have to have the original lineup plus a performance. I wonder what incarnation of SP would play or show up.
As always, Billy is a man of contradictions but I think this was a pretty mature answer. As for the Hall of Fame, I suppose they’re eligible in four years, though I don’t see SP getting in on the first ballot considering Nirvana and Pearl Jam also become eligible that year. A lot can happen in that time. I could definitely see Jimmy playing with SP for that (I don’t think either Billy or Mike could argue against the merits of that). My guess is, unless some significant changes occur in their legal and personal relationships, James and D’Arcy will sit out entirely. Maybe D’Arcy would show up but not play.
I think it all depends on Billy’s mood at that given moment. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that his answer was “James Iha is a piece of shit” vs. “I’d like to mend the relationships.” Even Axl seemed open to considering the idea of playing with the old GNR lineup a couple months before.
I think mending of fences is a better choice than jumping into a live situation. I think the final Metro show never got released because James was making ugly faces the whole time. It’s right there in the Fuck You performance. When Billy starts going off into crazy land, James just makes a disgusted face to mock him. I dunno, man. I liked James a lot, but that single video gave me the vibe that he’d rather just be cool than in this band. And that’s fair. Can’t knock him for it. He’s a pariah to the Touch and Go world he really loves anyway, just by being a member of the band. Fucking indie kids.
@ colquittbrett
That is an interesting thought on the Metro performance…I am not sure if I agree or disagree on the disgusted/ugly face theory. I’d say for sure that James has always appeared to be distant, aloof, reserved, and often seemingly uninterested–and I agree with you that these traits are off-putting. I could be totally off base, but I just never interpreted the face he makes in the Metro video to be “mocking” Billy. Looks to me like it’s more a jokey reaction to a film camera being invasive to his space. Also, seconds later, Iha seems really into the performance, throwing his head back, jumping, and rawking. The only thing I can really say is the guy is very difficult to interpret. It’s hard to tell if he’s being sarcastic, serious, or good natured. He was usually either like a statue or heavily animated. I really don’t know how to read him. He certainly seemed to be “too cool” for the most part, and I don’t completely contest your interpretation of him making an ugly/mocking facial expression.
I would be more interested in Billy mending his past relationships than the music part. It’s sad when long term friendships end for whatever reason. life is too short. Of course the only people who really know the reasons are Billy, James, Jimmy, & Darcy.
@ colquittbrett
Just rewatched the video, and I’m not seeing that look you talked about. But in terms of James’ priorities and aesthetic vs. Billy’s, I don’t disagree with you.
I’ve gone back & skimmed over some videos from around that time, and was surprised that James often looks fairly animated and “into it”, much more than I had thought or remembered. If you look at this video of Heavy Metal Machine from MusiquePlus, he’s rocking out and moving around a lot:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJsaDJOa-N4&w=420&h=315%5D
speaking of that show (a few years ago now) the snips at each other towards the end of the show felt awkard…probable misquotes
bc – now i wont have to listen to your stupid jokes anymore
ji – now i wont have to listen to YOUR stupid jokes….anymore
…sounded funny at first, but james didnt take it well.
and a few months eariler in waukee i remember billy “yelling” at james to give the fans a better guitar solo during….erm, rock on?
eaither way, im waiting patiently for that metro dvd.