original members

[werideatdusk]

Originally Posted by scottytheoneand

i'm not going to read this. just tell me whether you actually wrote this many words or whether you copied it from somewhere else

actually wrote it in response to a youtube conversation, hence it's geared towards a less knowledgeable audience... but wanted to share it here and continue the discussion. The main point I was making is that I don't agree that Billy IS the Smashing Pumpkins, and that even though he's obviously always been the visionary in the group, the specific sound and feel of SP could not have happened without the years that the original four put in together, hashing it out, figuring it out as a group.

[werideatdusk]

Originally Posted by morespsoon

It's very possible Iha, Darcy, Chamberlain, and the producers involved with the Pumpkins made it cool and hip and relevant...I'm starting to think that Billy Corgan is something like George Lucas, an artist with massive talent but very little TASTE or awareness. When they're relatively "poor" and under great pressure and being shaped by the right influences they'll produce great things (Star Wars 4-6, Corgan pre-SP2). When they become comfortable and work too independently their lack of TASTE and awareness shows (Howard the duck, The Phantom Menace, SP2, SP3).

Interesting comparison. You could say that George Lucas and Billy Corgan are both very talented, but essentially specialize in pastiche. Lucas tied together old movie formats and storytelling ideas and brought them in for a new generation. Corgan's music with SP was similar. It was unique because of its complexity and imagination but it was essentially, not very innovative.

But they were both showered with huge success and riches and began assuming that everything they did was golden and they didn't need the input from others. Worse, their wealth and fame cut them off from the life experience that had fueled their earlier works (Lucas wrote "American Graffiti" about his teenage years... what would he make about his life in the 90s?)

Both are very talented but allowed themselves to think they were all-time greats and failed to see that their connection to their audience was irrevocably damaged by wealth and power.

[amoergosum]

[pavementtune]

Originally Posted by werideatdusk

actually wrote it in response to a youtube conversation, hence it's geared towards a less knowledgeable audience... but wanted to share it here and continue the discussion.

http://media.giphy.com/media/WVx3SfDvTsTSw/giphy.gif

[Trotskilicious]

hahahaha