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Episode Description
Billy Corgan, frontman of Smashing Pumpkins, shares his journey from rock star to wrestling promoter while reflecting on music industry transformations. Through conversations about his current projects and upcoming tours, Corgan reveals how he's maintained creative control and relevance over a four-decade career spanning 600+ songs.
• Working on Melancholy 30th anniversary recordings and preparing for special shows at Chicago's Lyric Opera
• Planning multiple tours including solo shows under "Machines of God" and Smashing Pumpkins European tour
• Navigating the shift from record label control to artist-driven business models
• Witnessing younger audiences discover the band through streaming services and social media
• Owning the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the oldest professional wrestling organization in the world
• Balancing music career with family life, including raising three children under 10
• Reflecting on how work ethic and songwriting set Smashing Pumpkins apart from their contemporaries
• Sharing the crucial advice from his father: "Write your own songs"