Billy Corgan says label 'do not have the right' to use their name
Wed 26 Mar, 2008
I disagree completely - James' involvement is massively understated. He co-wrote 'I Am One', 'Soma' and 'Mayonaise' - three of their most popular songs; and he was in the band long before Jimmy replaced their drum machine.
In all, he wrote or co-wrote thirteen songs for the band and sang on two or three covers they recorded. Not as prolific as Billy maybe, but hardly a hired hand.
While Billy's perfectionism lead him to record the vast majority of guitar parts, I wouldn't take his post-split anti-James rhetoric as undeniable evidence of James' contributions. Read interviews and articles from the time of Mellon Collie, for example, and Billy talks openly about how James was very much involved; and the Adore EPK seemed to suggest Billy was too busy with his piano to care about guitar, so James came up with a lot of the guitar textures, particularly those using the eBow (like on 'For Martha').
The fact nothing Billy has released since the split has been upto the standards of the original line-up is clearly more than just him losing his touch.
Sat 29 Mar, 2008
You know what really harms the good will of fans, Billy?
1. Reforming a much-loved band without two of the original members (replaced with hired hands in what seems to be a blatant move to ensure the band is even less of a democracy than before its original demise).
2. Cashing in on the huge interest in the reformation by releasing a shit ton of different versions with different bonus tracks, cover art and extras - knowing full well there are people who will buy all the versions.
3. Books of (terrible) poetry.
Wed 26 Mar, 2008
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Smashing Pumpkins' Corgan speaks on Virgin lawsuit
Billy Corgan says label 'do not have the right' to use their name
Wed 26 Mar, 2008
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