The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Billy Corgan sits down with guitar virtuoso John 5 for a charged conversation about music, mastery, and survival. John opens up about his private KISS museum, the TV-music desert that shaped his Telecaster tone, and a grind honed through Rudy Sarzo, Bob Marlette, Rob Halford, and David Lee Roth. He gets raw about grief, discipline, and the ritual of running full Mötley Crüe sets at dawn—how stepping into that legendary band pushed him to new physical and creative extremes—while revisiting Eddie Van Halen’s genius and the chaos of the Marilyn Manson years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan sits down with Yungblud (Dom Harrison) at a pivotal career moment to unpack one of the rarest moves in music: crossing over from pop to rock and making it stick. From storming America’s legendary stages like the Fillmore and Palladium to earning Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne’s blessing in Birmingham, Yungblud reflects on why authenticity can’t be faked, why community matters more than clout, and how rock is finding new life with a new generation. The conversation goes deep into the cultural divide between UK and US audiences, the vision behind his IDOLS era, and his bold choice to re-record the album live at Berlin’s Hansa Studios (home to Bowie, Iggy Pop, U2, Depeche Mode) and his explosive collaboration with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan continues his deep dive with Daryl Hall in Part 2, where Daryl opens up about his hitmaking philosophy (“don’t think about it”), the unexpected re-release of She’s Gone, and sharing the stage with icons like David Bowie and Stevie Wonder. He reflects on the creation of Rich Girl, the pressures from Tommy Mottola and Atlantic Records, and the turning point that led Hall & Oates into their legendary 80s run. The conversation gets candid about fame and the industry politics that left Hall feeling “trapped” even at the height of success. He also shares how Live From Daryl’s House became his purest form of self-expression and explains why restoring old homes feels like “living inside art.” Subscribe to the Magnificent Others YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan joins Daryl Hall at home for Part 1 of an expansive conversation on the craft of collaboration, the roots that shaped him, and the long road to “Sara Smile.” Daryl retraces his path from doo-wop street corners and Philly R&B to early sessions with Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell, the Atlantic years with the legendary Ahmet Ertegun and Arif Mardin, a left-turn album with Todd Rundgren, and the creative pivot that set the stage for Hall & Oates’ breakout at RCA. Along the way, he shares candid thoughts on resisting labels, finding joy in collaboration, and what it means to move seamlessly between genres. Subscribe to the Magnificent Others YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded live at Madame Zuzu’s Tea Shop and Art Studio in Chicago, Billy Corgan trades stories with DEVO for a lively in-person taping: the ’78 SNL shocker, how de-evolution sprang from art-school mischief, Kent State, and ’60s politics; Neil Young and Human Highway; legendary manager Elliot Roberts; Eno/Bowie studio friction; MTV, “Whip It,” and the corporate machine; General Boy stories; plus AI—the most DEVO tool yet—and why the human touch still wins. A warm, funny night that shows DEVO’s playful subversion still connects across generations. Subscribe to the Magnificent Others YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan sits down with John Cowsill (The Cowsills) for a deep-cut tour through ’60s pop history, from kitchen-table harmonies and four-set club nights as grade-schoolers to drumming as a nine-year-old on Ed Sullivan. He shares what really happened in the studio on “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” and “Hair,” and the family dynamics that fueled and fractured a once-in-a-generation vocal blend. They also trace John’s path from early Johnny Nash sessions to decades with the Beach Boys, a new duo with wife Vicki Peterson (The Bangles), and fronting The Smithereens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chicago meets Chicago as Billy Corgan sits down with Marilu Henner to unpack her highly superior autobiographical memory (H.S.A.M.) that can turn a Tuesday from 1972 into a living scene and why her story is bigger than a party trick. From her Logan Square roots (beauty shop in the kitchen, dance school in the backyard), the champions who changed her path, Taxi’s 112 episodes, 112 Friday parties, open-door table reads, and Andy Kaufman’s singular orbit. The pair connect feeling to art including the rain-slick Chicago moment that helped spark “1979.” Old Hollywood drifts through, the Andrews Sisters’ precision harmonies and Burt Reynolds’ desert circus in Cannonball Run II before the conversation lands on health, longevity, and service. Subscribe to the Magnificent Others YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In what may be one of his final interviews, soul legend Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave) sits down with Billy Corgan for a candid, career-spanning conversation—covering church-born vocals, the Stax vs. Motown divide, and why real bands beat backing tracks. He revisits the accidental origins of Sam & Dave, the studio alchemy with Isaac Hayes and David Porter, and sessions behind “Hold On, I’m Comin’” and the iconic “Play it, Steve!” on “Soul Man.” Moore speaks frankly about industry politics, DJ gatekeeping, tours with Otis Redding, the M.G.’s (Duck Dunn, Al Jackson, Steve Cropper) and his long road from addiction to sobriety. Subscribe to the Magnificent Others YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan chats with guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, known for his work with legends like Frank Zappa and Whitesnake. They dive into the wild antics of ’80s performances and discuss the obsessive passion behind mastering guitar. Vai shares his exhilarating experience replacing Yngwie Malmsteen and navigating the smoky challenges of David Lee Roth’s era. Their conversation also touches on the powerful influence of mentorship in music and the evolution of guitar styles, revealing how creative fulfillment shapes a musician's journey.

In this episode Billy Corgan sits down with musical visionary Danny Elfman. Together they trace his journey from the underground theatrics of the Mystic Knights to fronting Oingo Boingo, and on to scoring over 100 iconic films including Batman, Beetlejuice, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Danny opens up about his unconventional path into composing, the challenges of being underestimated in both rock and classical circles, working with Tim Burton, and why he thrives on creative resistance. In the end, it’s a conversation about art, identity, and what it means to finally feel seen on your own terms. Subscribe to the Magnificent Others YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices