Billy Corgan Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Billy Corgan was born on March 17, 1967. He is an American musician, songwriter, poet, producer, and entrepreneur. He is popularly known as a member of the band ‘Smashing Pumpkins’.

Early life

Billy Corgan was born in March 17, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. He was born to William Corgan Senior who is a blues and rock guitarist and Martha Louise Maes Corgan Lutz. He was born into a Catholic family. He was brought up alongside his brother Ricky. In 1970, his parents divorced. His father remarried and he went to live with his father and stepmother. He was physically and emotionally abused by his stepmother.

Billy Corgan attended Marquardt Middle School where he was an active athlete. He later joined Glenbard North High School where he was an average athlete. He began playing guitar when he saw his friend’s guitar. He graduated high school as an honour student as he performed in many bands in high school. In 1985, he moved to Florida with his band ‘The Marked’. The band later dissolved and he went back to Chicago where he lived with his father. In 1987, he performed with Wayne Static in Static’s band ‘Deep Blue Dream’.

Career

When Billy Corgan returned to Chicago, he met guitarist James Iha with whom they began recording demos. He later met bassist D’arcy Wretzky. The trio formed the ‘Smashing Pumpkins’. They played together in local clubs. They later recruited drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. In 1988, the band played for the first time as a quartet. In 1991, the band released the album ‘Gish’ which was a success. In 1993, the band released their second album ‘Siamese Dream’ which became a multi-platinum hit. The album’s singles ‘Disarm’ and ‘Today’ became a hit.

In 1995, they released the album ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’ which was also a success. In the same year the band appeared on the ‘Saturday Night Live’ to promote their album. In 1998, the band released the album ‘Adore’ as a trio after they fired Chamberlin due to drug addiction. In 1999, Chamberlin rejoined the band. In 2000, the band released the album ‘Machina/The Machines of God’. Wretzky later quit the band and she was replaced by bassist Melissa Auf der Maur. In December the same year, the band broke up.

In 2001, Billy Corgan formed the band ‘Zwan’ with Chamberlin and Matt Sweeney. They later recruited guitarist David Pajo and bassist Paz Lenchantin. In 2003, the band released the album ‘Mary Star of the Sea’. In the same year the band broke up. In 2004, Corgan published a book of poetry titled ‘Blinking with Fists’. He also posted autobiographical writing online under the heading ‘The Confessions of Billy Corgan’. In 2005, he released his first solo album titled ‘The Future Embrace’ though it was not so successful.

In 2006, The ‘Smashing Pumpkins’ reunited with new members. They recruited bassist Ginger Pooley and guitarist Jeff Schroeder. In 2007, they released the album ‘Zeitgeist’ which was a success. In 2009, Chamberlin left the band. In the same year, Corgan formed the band ‘Spirits in the Sky’. The ‘Smashing Pumpkins’ later released the album ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’. In 2014, the band released the album ‘Monuments to an Elegy’ which was recorded by Corgan. In 2017, he announced his solo album ‘Ogilala’.

Personal life

Billy Corgan has suffered from depression since he was a young child. In 1996, his mother died, and he wrote the song ‘For Mama’ in her memory. ‘For Mama’ was one of the singles in the Adore Album. In 1993, he married Chris Fabian, but they divorced in 1997. He has dated many women, but he has not married again. He has a son with his girlfriend, Chloe Mendel. His child is called Augustus Jupiter Corgan. He is currently fifty years old.