Advertise on podcast: The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Billy Corgan sits down with Anthony Michael Hall (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science) for a funny, honest conversation about fame, failure and five decades in Hollywood. Hall traces his start to a music-filled home and childhood auditions that began as an after-school hobby. He talks about growing up on movie sets, living near the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off house and staying determined through a 15-year stretch when work was scarce. He also looks back on two John Hughes films he passed on and an unexpected call from Stanley Kubrick about Full Metal Jacket. From The Breakfast Club and Weird Science to Tim Burton, a rough SNL season, a surprise Lorne Michaels story and a moon-landing rabbit hole, the conversation wanders through ’80s nostalgia, the odd realities of show business and quieter reflections on fathers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"He didn’t fire us. He freed us.” Billy Corgan welcomes legendary songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam to The Magnificent Others. Jimmy explains how he and Terry Lewis broke Prince’s rule against producing artists outside The Time and how getting fired opened the door to one of music’s most successful partnerships. Jimmy shares how he got his first professional gig at 12, filling in for a drummer in his father’s band—and how his mother made sure he was paid like a pro. He recalls meeting Terry as a teenager and bringing their different musical tastes together. With Janet Jackson, Jam and Lewis built Control around her experiences and attitude, helping her become an active voice in her music. Jimmy also explains how their “funky bottom, pretty top” sound evolved, why young artists need skills beyond singing and social media, and why AI should come with clear labeling, permission and compensation for creators. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when a rock legend stops being just “the drummer from The Police” and spends decades chasing every other creative obsession? Stewart Copeland and Billy Corgan skip the greatest hits and tumble down the Rumble Fish rabbit hole with Francis Coppola. They revisit the “hell on earth” final Police sessions and unpack why band therapy involved incense and a lot of gazing into each other’s eyes. Also on the menu: a prison-themed song with a very John Waters title, a horse incident (Stewart insists the record be corrected), an opera that got shredded by critics, a night in a Zaire jail, and a German superfan with questionable priorities. Then it gets thoughtful: the strange weight of the rock-star “avatar,” what AI means for the musical middle class, and what happened when Stewart’s son built a digital version of him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joins Billy for a conversation that swings from skate culture to the lasting effects of surviving a plane crash. Barker talks about how growing up listening to everything from Dr. Dre to Metallica shaped his anything-goes approach to drumming and producing. He recalls playing Black Sabbath’s farewell show for Ozzy Osbourne—and the family moment that made the trip impossible to miss. Then the conversation gets candid about survivor’s guilt, losing friends, finding his way back to flying, and how telling his story in a documentary helped him move forward. Along the way, Billy and Travis veer into the Ramones, Vans, matcha, and the cheerful chaos of a seven-kid household.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chelsea Wolfe joins Billy Corgan for a revealing conversation about witchcraft, Gnosticism, and why she was once “susceptible to cults.” She traces the roots of her unmistakable sound—from childhood night terrors and shadow figures during sleep paralysis to the private inner world where her music first took shape. Chelsea explains how outside influences kept her feeling small and creatively trapped, and what it took to reclaim her artistic identity. Billy revisits why the platinum-selling Adore was still considered a commercial disappointment, the Rick Rubin-produced song he removed from the album, and the price of choosing honesty over expectations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthrax co-founder Scott Ian joins Billy Corgan to trace thrash metal from a burned-out Queens rehearsal building to arenas around the world. Ian takes Billy inside the scene’s earliest days, including his first encounters with Metallica, the historic lineup change he witnessed firsthand, and the tour he believes changed metal forever. He also recalls unforgettable moments with Ronnie James Dio and Lemmy—and an emotional Black Sabbath farewell he still struggles to talk about. The conversation turns to Anthrax’s unexpected connection with Public Enemy and the warning Ian once gave Pantera at the height of their success. With Anthrax’s first album in a decade, Cursum Perficio, Ian reflects on surviving the years when metal fell out of favor, learning the power of saying no, and watching the next generation forge its own path. Listen to the Show on all Podcast Apps "The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-magnificent-others-with-billy-corgan/id1793783665?i=1000689358669 Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO?sub_confirmation=1 Support our Sponsors: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to Quo.com/MAGNIFICENT. Follow Billy: https://www.facebook.com/BillyCorgan https://x.com/Billy https://www.instagram.com/billycorgan Follow The SmashingPumpkins https://x.com/smashingpumpkin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael Sweet joins Billy Corgan to revisit his band Stryper’s unlikely rise from the Sunset Strip to MTV—with an openly professed faith in God at the center of it all. Sweet recalls crossing paths with Ratt, Mötley Crüe, and W.A.S.P., becoming in the 1980’s metal’s unmistakable black-and-yellow outsiders; whilst facing resistance from both the rock world and the church. He considers whether the band’s faith may have kept them from becoming even bigger and revisits the awkward moment David Cassidy spotted him somewhere a Christian rocker probably shouldn’t have been. Sweet explains why today he feels more driven than ever to keep creating. With his latest solo album, The Master Plan, and Stryper’s newest Throne of Thorns, he isn’t slowing down anytime soon. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Revered comedienne Vicki Lawrence joins Billy Corgan to revisit her remarkable journey from an 18-year-old UCLA student to the youngest cast member of The Carol Burnett Show. Lawrence reveals what Carol Burnett told CBS executives when they wanted to replace her just six weeks into the series. She recalls Harvey Korman teaching her the craft of comedy and recalls memories of working with Rita Hayworth, Sammy Davis Jr., Dick Van Dyke, and Bob Mackie. She also shares the unlikely story behind “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” and explains how Mama evolved from a supporting character into a sitcom icon. Lawrence reflects on losing her husband just before their 50th anniversary and why classic television continues to comfort new generations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Billy Corgan sits down with Beatles gear historian and Recording the Beatles co-author Brian Kehew for a deep dive into vintage synths, mixing boards, and the hidden machinery behind rock's greatest records. Kehew explains how The Beatles pushed EMI’s engineers to invent new sounds—and why George Martin was essential to the band’s identity. The two swap stories about Van Halen’s mysterious tape vault, including why a third of Eddie’s famous wall was blank reels and how he and Tom Petty raced to buy the last remaining rolls of analog tape in Los Angeles. They also discuss the decade-long making of Recording the Beatles and why Ritchie Blackmore belongs alongside Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen. Kehew explores AI’s role in preserving classic recordings and Master Tape Rescue, his nonprofit reuniting artists with lost recordings. He also previews a Pete Townshend project devoted to his pioneering electronic music. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Billy Corgan welcomes Matthew and Gunnar Nelson — twin sons of teen idol Ricky Nelson and grandsons of TV icons Ozzie and Harriet for a conversation about rock stardom, grief, and the ruthless side of the music business. The brothers trace their journey from losing their father at 18 and confronting millions in family debt to topping the charts with "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection." They recall the punishing tour schedule that pushed Gunnar into a panic attack, the rise of Nirvana and grunge that upended MTV overnight, and a Geffen executive's vow to bury their record. Billy shares his own major-label battles as they debate the real cost of bending your music to please the label. That fight for creative freedom echoes back to their father's story from Bob Dylan's encouragement to write his own songs, to the boos that inspired "Garden Party." It's the story of a four-generation musical legacy, and the brothers fighting to protect it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Billy Corgan welcomes Ron Dante, the unmistakable voice behind the Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” for a fascinating look at the hidden machinery of classic pop music. Dante recalls starting as a 17-year-old demo singer, auditioning for the Monkees, and becoming the anonymous voice of two Top 10 hits at the same time. He reveals how “Sugar, Sugar” became a worldwide phenomenon, why he never resented the “bubblegum rock” label, and how elite New York session musicians powered a cartoon band. Billy also shares his own emotional connection to the song. From anonymous singer to hit producer, Dante takes Billy inside the making of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” and shares the difficult decision that helped clear the way for Pat Benatar’s rise to stardom. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Producer/musician Shooter Jennings joins Billy Corgan on The Magnificent Others to trace his unconventional path from recording artist to acclaimed producer. Shooter discusses his disastrous Rick Rubin showcase, jamming with the band that became Velvet Revolver and producing Tanya Tucker, Charley Crockett and Brandi Carlile. He also recounts restoring a vault of unreleased Waylon Jennings recordings for Songbird and Diamonds, while reflecting on the musical legacy of his mother, Jessi Colter. Billy and Shooter debate AI, the disappearance of classic albums, and the importance of preserving the human element in music—before veering into Art Bell, ancient aliens, and dinosaur skepticism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Billy Corgan welcomes Conrad Flynn back for round three—and neither of them knows where the conversation is headed until it happens. Flynn traces the political forces surrounding Britpop and Oasis, while Billy recalls being approached by the Bush administration. They explore the mythology of ancient aliens, the rebranding of UFOs as UAPs, and why these stories continue to shape how we understand humanity. The conversation turns to authenticity in show business: Are stars revealing their true selves, or creating characters designed to connect with an audience? Billy reflects on his own Zero and Glass personas as they examine the backlash against carefully constructed celebrity identities. And finally, they ask whether AI is quietly becoming something people worship without even realizing it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Music legend Peter Asher joins Billy Corgan for a fascinating conversation spanning the British Invasion, the Beatles, Laurel Canyon, and the art of making timeless records. As one half of the chart-topping '60s duo Peter & Gordon, Asher looks back on his unforgettable years at Apple Records working alongside the Beatles, discovering James Taylor, and helping launch Linda Ronstadt's solo career. Billy and Peter dig into the craft of record production, the golden era of singer-songwriters, why a distinctive voice matters more than a perfect one, and the quiet relationships that shaped music history. Peter also explains why his greatest calling wasn't the spotlight but helping other artists find theirs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Billy Corgan welcomes Mötley Crüe co-founder Tommy Lee for a candid conversation about rock, reinvention, and the future of music. Tommy shares why he used AI to reimagine the artwork for Tommyland Rides Again, why Dolby Atmos has completely changed the way he thinks about making records, and why he believes streaming has crushed the "musical middle class." He also tells the incredible story of how Nikki Sixx bought back Mötley Crüe's catalog, reflects on the band's legacy, and explains why he'll never censor himself on social media—even when it comes to politics.  Billy also looks back on recording with Tommy in 2013, breaks down the unmistakable groove that helped define Mötley Crüe, and the two swap stories about David Bowie, Prince, Mick Mars, John 5, the Sunset Strip, and why they believe rock music is on the verge of a major comeback. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.