The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this conversation, I sit down with Elliot Mintz, the man who became John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s closest confidant during their most radical and reclusive years. Elliot shares how a single radio interview turned into hundreds of late-night calls, secret meetings in Ojai, and a front-row seat to Lennon’s life after the Beatles. We talk about government surveillance, artistic risk, and the quiet cost of fame. Elliot reflects on John’s complex relationships with Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, the making of Some Time in New York City, and the moment John handed him a test pressing and told him to “break the record. 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 this episode of TMO, Billy Corgan sits down with songwriting legend Paul Williams for a free‑wheeling conversation that spans astrology, Williams’ nomadic childhood and early hormone therapy, his breakthrough at A&M Records, and the creation of “We’ve Only Just Begun”, sessions with the Wrecking Crew, trading quips with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, Williams’ roles in Battle for the Planet of the Apes and Brian De Palma’s cult classic Phantom of the Paradise, and his memorable “Love Boat” theme. Both reflect on struggles with addiction: Williams’ 1989 cocaine‑induced breakdown that led to long‑term sobriety and Corgan’s experience with his father’s substance abuse. 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 Rick Springfield, a Grammy-winning singer and beloved actor known for 'Jessie's Girl' and his role on General Hospital. They reflect on Springfield's colorful journey from the band Zoot to solo fame, revealing the unique challenges of the music industry, including mental health struggles and the impact of fame. Rick shares candid stories about his battles with inner demons, the emotional weight of performances, and the importance of authenticity in an ever-evolving industry. Their conversation is a heartfelt exploration of creativity, resilience, and self-discovery.

Billy Corgan welcomes Micky Dolenz for a conversation that peels back the curtain on a lifetime in show business. Dolenz explains why he always kept “Micky the TV drummer” separate from the real man, explains how the Monkees were a cast before they were a band, surviving the show’s cancelation and watching the Monkees phenomenon roar back when MTV picked up the reruns. Along the way he revisits his Circus Boy childhood, Boyce & Hart songwriting sessions, Mike Nesmith’s push for creative control, and the boundary-breaking film Head that foreshadowed the indie-film revolution. The result is a candid, inside-out look at fame, reinvention, and the craft behind an accidental pop-culture landmark. Watch The Magnificent Others on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan sits down with Joe Mantegna to trace his journey from singing Beatles tunes in his Chicago high-school band The Weasels, playing clubs with acts like Neil Diamond and Chicago, to dodging mob-run venues, goth “Judas” cult fans, and finally finding his groove in theatrical productions of West Side Story, Hair and Godspell. He recalls tiny residual checks, eight-shows-a-week stamina, and how that grind led to a Tony Award and iconic turns in The Godfather Part III, Criminal Minds and The Simpsons. Watch The Magnificent Others on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan sits down with Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale about Rossdale’s transition from a quiet London childhood and Kings Road punk scene to forging Bush’s blues-free, down-tuned sound. They trace the Pixies’ and Steve Albini’s influence on the breakout album Sixteen Stone, the grunge-era label hurdles, and the craft of matching raw lyrics with arena-sized guitars. Rossdale also reflects on Bush’s upcoming album “I Beat Loneliness”, his cooking show “Dinner With Gavin Rossdale, juggling fatherhood, touring, and mental-health realities while keeping the creative fire alive.  Watch The Magnificent Others on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part 2 of this candid conversation, Paul Stanley reflects on 50 years of KISS. Together they dig into the legacy, the criticism, the creativity, and the brotherhood behind the band. From the idea of a KISS biopic and their unmasked Vegas shows to Paul's Soul Station, songwriting, and his admiration for icons like Robert Plant and Steve Marriott. Watch The Magnificent Others on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan sits down with KISS co-founder Paul Stanley, for Part 1 of a two part conversation that traces the 1998 Halloween “Psycho Circus” reunion at Dodger Stadium to the sold-out “End of the Road” farewell at Madison Square Garden. Paul opens up about old rifts, the fresh spark Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, brought to the band and how starring in Phantom of the Opera helped him to navigate his own hidden secrets. He also offers hard-won lessons in fitness, therapy, fatherhood, and resilience. https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Billy Corgan sits down with legendary Doors guitarist Robby Krieger for an engaging conversation about music, legacy, and the evolving mythology of one of rock's most iconic and shadowy bands. Diving into Krieger's latest musical venture, Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, and stories from his memoir, Set the Night on Fire. Robby shares songwriting secrets behind classic like "Light My Fire," and navigating creative and personal challenges following Jim Morrison's untimely death. Plus musings over the impact of Oliver Stone’s controversial Doors biopic, and the mystery behind Robbie’s famously stolen guitar. https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices