Billy Corgan and sci-fi themes

[stumpycat]

So, it's become obvious to me over the past 15 or so years that Billy Corgan must be into science fiction. Many of his music videos involve futuristic or space imagery. Do you think he's a nerd about it or what?

Evidence:
tendencies towards dressing in period/odd/"future look" costuming
Alien video that he made as a kid
he apparently liked comic books
Rocket video (duh)
naming a song Spaceboy, Spaced, etc.
Tonight, Tonight video (duh again)
Honestly video (floating in starfield, combined with lots of cheesy overlay graphics)
playing Planet of the Apes clips during the MCIS tour
the set of Machina era Glass anime videos
That's the Way video (all floating around in space again, meeting up with one another over video conferencing and in futuristic vehicles)
that shirt he wore on tour a couple of years ago with planet Saturn on it

I know there's stuff I'm forgetting...

[Shallowed]

I can't think of much actual lyrical content that could pertain to that.

Got me a raygun, got me an altitude?

[Morlock]

Space references could also be spiritual instead of scientific. And there is certainly a lot of evidence for Corgan's fucking spirituality.

But if you want another sci-fi example - the rocket launcher from DOOM in Where Boys Fear to Tread.

[Sarrod]

"This is a song for a space invader, who flew into the sun... never to return"

[RenewRevive]

He wrore music for a TV show a while back called Masters of Science Fiction?

Oh and covering "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun".

[slunken]

he mentioned reading philip k dick and burroughs along with vedas and upanishads - all sci-fi

[ilikeplanets]

Originally Posted by stumpycat

that shirt he wore on tour a couple of years ago with planet Saturn on it

I have this and I love it.




Anyway, I'm not sure if he likes science fiction specifically or if he's simply interested in physics/the universe/ something "bigger than us". Many musicians (and people) are captivated by the expanse of space and artists in particular are able to capture that fascination and incorporate it into their work. Pumpkins music always had a spacey element to it.

[Rocket Launcher]

"by 1999 the aliens will be here, and that'll be the end of our civilization so you might as well get used to it now (...) " bc

[cork_soaker]

space'd

[slunken]

the spaceship has landed

[silverstrat]

He had a robot sister in the Small Wonder television series.

[stumpycat]

How about the Spaceman t-shirt? I forgot about that one. Not to mention the "Mission to Mars" one. Furthermore, the Arising! tour shirts seem sci-fi/horror themed.

Originally Posted by RockLobster

"we sing these songs for the aliens, you've seen the x-files... they're coming!"

YES, I forgot about those funky rants he always repeated at the beginning of the Transmission jam. (Actually, with some foresight of the thoughts he entertains now it seems he might actually believe this...)

Originally Posted by RenewRevive

He wrote music for a TV show a while back called Masters of Science Fiction?

Oh and covering "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun".

Really, where did you hear this? Are you talking about the PBS series "The Masters of Television" that airs every week with a different genre covered such as comedy/childrens shows/westerns/etc.? I usually watch that, and I think I've seen the sci-fi one in the past. It would be cool if he had scored that. (However, I will admit the shows themselves to leave something to be desired...as it seems to focus on a few well-remembered programs and the usual cabal of major production groups regardless of actual procession of influence, as well as the bog standard "seminal" moments...but I digress...)

Also, Pink Floyd was into sci-fi.

Originally Posted by silverstrat

He had a robot sister in the Small Wonder television series.

LOL. You win. I didn't see that one coming!

[stumpycat]

Originally Posted by ilikeplanets

I have this and I love it.




Anyway, I'm not sure if he likes science fiction specifically or if he's simply interested in physics/the universe/ something "bigger than us". Many musicians (and people) are captivated by the expanse of space and artists in particular are able to capture that fascination and incorporate it into their work. Pumpkins music always had a spacey element to it.

Damn, I'm jealous! I want to look like an oldschool Lego spaceman myself. (FYI, they were basically in the pre-1990 sets and didn't have a proper visor closure, so I guess they suffocated outside their craft.)

Also, it seems that the sort of schedule bands keep on the weekend or on tour might have been pretty conducive to watching science fiction/horror. When I was a young kid, I recall that in network TV "downtime" (before the widespread use and availability of cable or satellite television) such as late night or early weekend afternoons they often showed a shitload of science fiction or horror themed television or movies. If you're coming back from a gig past midnight, land in the hotel, and turn on the TV to chill (and maybe you've partied or you're high,) guess what you'd be seeing? A) fuzz/test signal; B) paid programming; C) classroom instructional videos; or D) B grade sci-fi/horror. (It's of course not really that way anymore.)

[whywontyoulistn]

I had a 1980s Lego spaceman who was entirely yellow apart from a Saturn logo on his chest. He had many a starring role as "naked man" in my mildly warped playtime sessions.

[Cool As Ice Cream]

[RenewRevive]

Originally Posted by stumpycat

Really, where did you hear this? Are you talking about the PBS series "The Masters of Television" that airs every week with a different genre covered such as comedy/childrens shows/westerns/etc.? I usually watch that, and I think I've seen the sci-fi one in the past. It would be cool if he had scored that. (However, I will admit the shows themselves to leave something to be desired...as it seems to focus on a few well-remembered programs and the usual cabal of major production groups regardless of actual procession of influence, as well as the bog standard "seminal" moments...but I digress...)

No it was a cancelled short-run show, on ABC i think (i am British so get easily confused by US TV channels!). it only ran for 6 episodes in 2007 and each one was an adaptation of an SF short story (by Heinlein, Harlan Ellison etc).

However, i got it totally wrong, he actually scored an episode of Masters of Horror (Showtime) in '05. The episode was called "Dance of the dead". I haven't seen the show, or heard the score so i can offer no more info, sadly.

[AveryLoren]

I actually tracked the episode down going to watch it tonight

[stumpycat]

Yes, the yellow spaceman! Mine was blue. My first Lego set!!
http://images.wikia.com/lego/images/6/6c/6808_Box.jpg

Originally Posted by RenewRevive

No it was a cancelled short-run show, on ABC i think (i am British so get easily confused by US TV channels!). it only ran for 6 episodes in 2007 and each one was an adaptation of an SF short story (by Heinlein, Harlan Ellison etc).

Oh yes! That does ring a bell now. I don't think that sort of program has much an audience these days. (Actually it sounds more like something your country would have run back in the 60's or 70's, when televised plays and literary adaptations were fairly popular.)

[ilikeplanets]

You bastard, I wanted that one and never got it!

[stumpycat]

How did you find out about it? It was first released in 1987, and they turn over the sets within a few years. I must have gotten it in 1988 or 89, and it disappeared shortly thereafter.
The kit design increased in complexity over time, anyway. (So the later sets really did look better and less overtly "blocky".) The old school castle sets are still the bomb, though. I loved the HUGE sets.

[Trotskilicious]

that's about when ilp was born huh

I had the grey and black castles but they are all lost to time now. I never had a pirate ship, but my friend had both. I built one with space parts and it was like...space pirates and shit. And I remember building this thing singing Tower of Song.

[ilikeplanets]

How did I find out? Let's just say I really liked legos.....

[Trotskilicious]

that's like the most bullshit set though

[ilikeplanets]

But I also really like space and always have! Pathetically enough it was often the boxes that drew me in (how could I know for sure what was inside) and I thought the little buttons painted on the legos were so cool.

[ilikeplanets]

I had some really girly sets too but I always preferred boy toys. Except for the cowboy legos.

[Trotskilicious]

LIKE A BOSS

[Trotskilicious]

http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/LEGO_Wiki

[ilikeplanets]

Man I was so pissed when Star Wars came out and infiltrated everything. I did not want to build fucking Star Wars ships!! You were probably too old for legos at that time but that movie ruined toys forever.

[ilikeplanets]

Holy shit! This site might be able to help me build a carnival! Thanks buddy!!!

[Trotskilicious]

Oooohhh shiiiit.