Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond Billy Corgan
14 snips
Mar 18, 2025 
Billy Corgan, the iconic lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins and owner of the National Wrestling Alliance, shares his eclectic journey from rock star to podcast host. He discusses his unique interviewing style and the 'Siamese Zombies,' a fascinating subset of his fandom. The conversation dives into his rejection of 90s alternative music conventions, the struggles of authenticity in the industry, and the complexities of balancing emotional honesty with public perception. Corgan also addresses the challenges of navigating political discourse in today's media landscape.
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Authentic Interviews
- Corgan aims for authentic "behind the scenes" conversations in his podcast, focusing on artists' inner lives.
- He prioritizes genuine dialogue over the typical interview format, wanting to understand their creative process.
Corgan's Avatar
- Billy Corgan used to "fuck with media" as a performance art project, creating a repulsive avatar.
- This avatar was a defense mechanism against rejection, but now people confuse it with his true self.
Wrestling's Heel
- Corgan realized his avatar's purpose mirrored professional wrestling's "heel" role: to be booed.
- Engendering a reaction, even negative, was preferable to apathy, but this approach became toxic over time.
