Metal Sludge Gossip Board

Smashing Pumpkins singer, songwriter, and guitarist Billy Corgan has taken a shot at lists that rank the greatest guitar players of all time, feeling that he’s either ranked too low or snubbed from the lists altogether.

In an interview with Guitar World, Corgan expressed feeling under appreciated from the publications who compile these lists, guitar lovers, and even Smashing Pumpkins fans. “Most people don’t even recognize my contributions as a guitar player,” Corgan told Guitar World. “They don’t even assume I’m the one playing a lot of the guitar.”

He went on, saying that his guitar skills are worthy of a bit more recognition. “You have these silly lists that come out about the greatest guitar players; I usually don’t even make those lists,” he said. “Or they’ll put me behind somebody who I could play circles around. I don’t mean to denigrate the person in front of me or the people in front of me, but come on, you know? I’m enough of a guitar player to know who’s a great guitar player.”

Corgan also mentioned that his responsibilities as a songwriter and bandleader are overlooked due to his role as frontman. “I’m writing the song, lyrics, melodies, arrangements and playing most of the complicated guitar. And I’m capable of doing a solo on top of that. I think that’s hard for people to process… They don’t want to believe one person can do all those things.”

And lastly, Corgan once again maintained that he is someone who knows great guitar playing when they hear it. “I’ve played on stage with George Lynch and Uli Jon Roth, two of the greatest guitar players in history. I sat for hours across from Eddie Van Halen at 5150 with my jaw open, watching Eddie play, okay? My father was a great guitar player. I’ve got no problem acknowledging some of the greatest guitar players ever,” Corgan said before concluding, “I would never even put myself in their company, [but] there’s a lot of people who pretend to play guitar. I certainly have no problem believing I’m better than a lot of them.”

While Guitar World notes that Corgan did indeed place on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, he notably did not appear on Rolling Stone’s similar list from last year. As for Consequence, we have not yet published a list of the greatest axemen in history… but if and when we do, it’s nice to know Corgan will probably give it a quick scan to see if his name is on it (we did, however, publish our lists of the best bassists and best drummers of all time this year).

Meanwhile, the Smashing Pumpkins just embarked on a November tour of Latin America, while Corgan recently announced a brief December solo tour of Australia. Aghori Mhori Mei, the Smashing Pumpkins’ 13th album, arrived in August.

CrankerBait wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:36 am Anybody who knows even a little about the Smashing Pumpkins is aware that Corgan is a very good guitarist who played most of the guitars on the albums. He's the leader of the band, lead singer and he has always written most of the material. The fans, even casual fans, know these things. People in the music biz know the same. Not sure why he cares what "most" people recognize.

Velvis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 7:58 am

CrankerBait wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:36 am Anybody who knows even a little about the Smashing Pumpkins is aware that Corgan is a very good guitarist who played most of the guitars on the albums. He's the leader of the band, lead singer and he has always written most of the material. The fans, even casual fans, know these things. People in the music biz know the same. Not sure why he cares what "most" people recognize.

As someone only with passing knowledge of the band (I like a few of their songs and they are probably my favorite 90s band which admittedly isn't saying much) I'd have completely assumed as the lead singer, band spokesperson, and one of the two guitarists that he was the rhythm guitarist. Is that not the case?

And when I think of those lists, I think about the lead guitarists.

CrankerBait wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:36 am Anybody who knows even a little about the Smashing Pumpkins is aware that Corgan is a very good guitarist who played most of the guitars on the albums. He's the leader of the band, lead singer and he has always written most of the material. The fans, even casual fans, know these things. People in the music biz know the same. Not sure why he cares what "most" people recognize.

CrankerBait wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 9:22 am

Velvis wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 7:58 am

CrankerBait wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:36 am Anybody who knows even a little about the Smashing Pumpkins is aware that Corgan is a very good guitarist who played most of the guitars on the albums. He's the leader of the band, lead singer and he has always written most of the material. The fans, even casual fans, know these things. People in the music biz know the same. Not sure why he cares what "most" people recognize.

As someone only with passing knowledge of the band (I like a few of their songs and they are probably my favorite 90s band which admittedly isn't saying much) I'd have completely assumed as the lead singer, band spokesperson, and one of the two guitarists that he was the rhythm guitarist. Is that not the case?

And when I think of those lists, I think about the lead guitarists.

That is often the case, but there are some notable exceptions: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Bonamasso, Justin Hawkins, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Rivers Cuomo, John Fogerty, SRV, etc.

James Iha and Billy Corgan compliment each other really well, but I think most of the attention grabbing, lead work, especially on the albums, is Corgan.

Wild Obsession wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 10:14 am

CrankerBait wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:36 am Anybody who knows even a little about the Smashing Pumpkins is aware that Corgan is a very good guitarist who played most of the guitars on the albums. He's the leader of the band, lead singer and he has always written most of the material. The fans, even casual fans, know these things. People in the music biz know the same. Not sure why he cares what "most" people recognize.

Most people recognize that William comes across like an insufferable twat.

"My mom, on the other hand, is 80, but she doesn't live. So I'm trying to find a balance between them. I don't want to be like my mom and live to be 80, and not live. And I don't want to die at 66 like my dad."

Neil Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 9:57 am There are tons of alt rock guitar heroes who write most of the songs, play a few other instruments on record, and are also the singer and frontman. Thurston Moore, Chris Cornell, and I would even say Kurt Cobain were all very good guitarists and songwriters. I’ll bet they aren’t on these lists either, or are very low. Not sure Billy is any better than them.

Ryan81 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 9:20 pm I hate Corgan's music, as in I cannot stand Smashing Pumpkins. Their music almost offends me. I also cannot stand his voice. But...I will say I saw an interview with him where he listed his 10 favorite albums and it was a damn good list. It had Judas Priest and even more stunning Dokken on it. Since then I have paid a little more attention to his interviews and I agree with quite a bit of what he says, but I still despise his music. I remember in his interview with Eddie he gave Van Halen II some high praise. I definitely wasn't expecting that one either.

BernieTaupson wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 1:12 pm Corgan shreds in 1985.

https://youtu.be/9hYPo2py77A?si=zUZGEcGa8l_AYACL

BernieTaupson wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 10:49 pm

pieceofme wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:58 pm

Neil Diamond Dave wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 9:57 am There are tons of alt rock guitar heroes who write most of the songs, play a few other instruments on record, and are also the singer and frontman. Thurston Moore, Chris Cornell, and I would even say Kurt Cobain were all very good guitarists and songwriters. I’ll bet they aren’t on these lists either, or are very low. Not sure Billy is any better than them.

Cobain normally ranks pretty high on these lists. Much to the annoyance of some people who post here

Jack fucking White was in the top five lists about ten years ago. Is he still alive?

Mojo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 7:13 am Despite all his rage, he is still just a brat learning CAGED.