The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Billy Corgan sits down with Penn Jillette for a sprawling, razor-sharp conversation that moves from magic to morality. What begins as a discussion about deception quickly becomes something deeper: why consent turns lying into art, and why Penn proudly calls himself an “honest liar.” Penn traces his path from a strict Christian upbringing to agnosticism and atheism, shaped by mentors like James Ran...

Stephen Pearcy, founder and frontman of Ratt, joins Billy Corgan for a conversation that swings from the near-fatal accident that first pushed him toward music to the creative vision that shaped Ratt’s distinctive sound alongside guitarist Robbin Crosby. They trace Pearcy’s all-out hustle through the LA club circuit, following Van Halen’s blueprint while drawing from unexpected influences like Dav...

In this wide-ranging conversation, Billy Corgan sits down with writer and cultural commentator Conrad Flynn for a deep dive into the shadowy intersections of rock music, occult influences, and Hollywood's secret history. Conrad, grandson of legendary actor Robert Conrad and press agent Harry Flynn, shares unique insider perspectives on Old Hollywood's hidden dynamics—from Mercury Records' satanic...

Billy Corgan talks with filmmaker Dan Farah about  The Age of Disclosure  and the explosive claims from 34 military and intelligence insiders who say UAP activity—including over Area 51—is real and long concealed. They dig into the alleged 80-year cover-up, a hidden Legacy Program tied to crash retrievals and reverse engineering, the rebranding from UFO to UAP, and why disclosure is happening now—...

Billy Corgan welcomes legendary actress and animal advocate  Linda Blair  for an intimate conversation that goes far beyond  The Exorcist . Linda reflects on growing up as a child model who booked  75+ commercials , the surreal whiplash of becoming “the avatar of what’s spooky,” and what it  really  felt like being a kid inside a Hollywood machine that wouldn’t let her step off. From there, the ep...

Billy Corgan sits down with legendary actor and storyteller Chazz Palminteri to retrace the unbelievable true story behind  A Bronx Tale  — a mafia murder witnessed at age nine, a Hollywood firing from Swifty Lazar, and the moment poverty and desperation pushed him to take control of his own destiny. Chazz reveals how turning down $1 million to protect his story led to a handshake deal with Robert...

Billy Corgan sits down with guitar icon Vernon Reid — founder of Living Colour and the Grammy-winning force behind miles of electric innovation — for a high-voltage conversation about rewriting the rules of rock. Vernon traces his path from discovering Coltrane to NYC’s avant-garde scene, as well as the precient rise of the Black Rock Coalition. He opens up about the lightning-strike creation of “...

Billy Corgan  sits down with legendary rock producer  Jack Douglas  for an intimate, no-frills conversation that runs straight through the heart of classic rock history—from  John Lennon and Yoko Ono ,  Imagine , and  Double Fantasy  to  Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper , the  New York Dolls , and beyond. Jack tells the wild story of Lennon recognizing him from a Liverpool newspaper, pulling h...

Billy Corgan sits down with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer   Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company) for a sharp, funny, and revealing dive into 50 years of rock majesty. Simon traces his journey from growing up in poverty to the lightning-bolt moment drums grabbed him, the fateful coin flip that led him to Paul Kossoff   and the creation of “All Right Now,” and then to forming Bad Company with Paul Rodger...

In this powerful and emotional conversation, Wendy Dio joins Billy Corgan to share the brilliance of her late husband, Ronnie James Dio, from their first meeting at the Rainbow to the creation of Blackmore’s Rainbow, following Ozzy in Black Sabbath, and his breakthrough with his own band, Dio. Wendy reveals how Ronnie stayed true to his vision, refusing to chase hits, and how his humility, brillia...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Billy Corgan sits down with world-renowned chef Curtis Duffy to explore the extraordinary journey behind his Michelin-starred career. From a childhood marked by tragedy to becoming one of America’s most celebrated culinary artists, Duffy opens up about how loss shaped his drive, creativity, and obsession with excellence. They dive into the discipline o...

In this emotional continuation, Rudy Sarzo opens up to BillyCorgan about the heartbreaking moment he lost his bandmate and friend Randy Rhoads in a tragic plane crash, and why Ozzy had to keep moving to survive. They revisit the origins of  Metal Health , Quiet Riot’s groundbreaking album that became the first debut heavy metal record to hit #1 ,  tracing its roots to Rhoads’ influence, Slade cove...

Billy Corgan sits down with legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo for Part 1 of a sweeping, emotional journey from Havana to Hollywood, escaping Castro’s Cuba, discovering the Beatles, and finding identity through rock. Sarzo recounts his path from Miami and New Jersey club bands to Chicago glam dreams and, finally, Los Angeles, where Quiet Riot, Randy Rhoads, and a fateful call from Sharon and Ozzy Osbour...

Billy Corgan sits down with screen icon Malcolm McDowell for a masterclass on craft and legacy—from Lindsay Anderson’s “If” to becoming Stanley Kubrick’s Alex in “ A Clockwork Orange”.  McDowell shares the real casting story, Kubrick’s process, why “ 2001”  still stuns, and how a single “trance” look became an era-defining image. They dig into Shakespeare and Olivier lore, Eric Burdon, the redempt...

Billy Corgan sits down with guitar virtuoso John 5 for a charged conversation about music, mastery, and survival. John opens up about his private KISS museum, the TV-music desert that shaped his Telecaster tone, and a grind honed through Rudy Sarzo, Bob Marlette, Rob Halford, and David Lee Roth. He gets raw about grief, discipline, and the ritual of running full Mötley Crüe sets at dawn—how steppi...

Billy Corgan sits down with Yungblud (Dom Harrison) at a pivotal career moment to unpack one of the rarest moves in music: crossing over from pop to rock and making it stick. From storming America’s legendary stages like the Fillmore and Palladium to earning Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne’s blessing in Birmingham, Yungblud reflects on why authenticity can’t be faked, why community matters more than cl...

Billy Corgan continues his deep dive with Daryl Hall in Part 2, where Daryl opens up about his hitmaking philosophy (“don’t think about it”), the unexpected re-release of  She’s Gone , and sharing the stage with icons like David Bowie and Stevie Wonder. He reflects on the creation of  Rich Girl , the pressures from Tommy Mottola and Atlantic Records, and the turning point that led Hall & Oates...

Billy Corgan joins Daryl Hall at home for Part 1 of an expansive conversation on the craft of collaboration, the roots that shaped him, and the long road to “Sara Smile.” Daryl retraces his path from doo-wop street corners and Philly R&B to early sessions with Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell, the Atlantic years with the legendary Ahmet Ertegun and Arif Mardin, a left-turn album with Todd Rundg...

Recorded live at Madame Zuzu’s Tea Shop and Art Studio in Chicago, Billy Corgan trades stories with DEVO for a lively in-person taping: the ’78 SNL shocker, how de-evolution sprang from art-school mischief, Kent State, and ’60s politics; Neil Young and  Human Highway ; legendary manager Elliot Roberts; Eno/Bowie studio friction; MTV, “Whip It,” and the corporate machine; General Boy stories; plus...

Billy Corgan sits down with  John Cowsill  (The Cowsills) for a deep-cut tour through ’60s pop history,  from kitchen-table harmonies and four-set club nights as grade-schoolers  to drumming as a nine-year-old on  Ed Sullivan . He shares what really happened in the studio on “The Rain, the Park & Other Things” and “Hair,” and the family dynamics that fueled and fractured a once-in-a-generation...

Chicago meets Chicago as Billy Corgan sits down with Marilu Henner to unpack her highly superior autobiographical memory (H.S.A.M.) that can turn a Tuesday from 1972 into a living scene and why her story is bigger than a party trick. From her Logan Square roots (beauty shop in the kitchen, dance school in the backyard), the champions who changed her path, Taxi’s 112 episodes, 112 Friday parties, o...

In what may be one of his final interviews, soul legend  Sam Moore  (of  Sam & Dave)  sits down with  Billy Corgan  for a candid, career-spanning conversation—covering church-born vocals, the Stax vs. Motown divide, and why real bands beat backing tracks. He revisits the accidental origins of Sam & Dave, the studio alchemy with  Isaac Hayes  and  David Porter,  and sessions behind  “Hold O...

Billy Corgan sits down with Steve Vai for a wild ride through arenas, rehearsal rooms, and beehives. They swap stories about outlandish ’80s stage antics, the “gunslinger” spirit of guitar duels, and how obsession, not discipline, fuels mastery. Vai breaks down his early passion for composing, his years with Frank Zappa, the hire wire act of replacing Yngwie Malmsteen and following Eddie Van Halen...

In this episode Billy Corgan sits down with musical visionary Danny Elfman. Together they trace his journey from the underground theatrics of the Mystic Knights to fronting Oingo Boingo, and on to scoring over 100 iconic films including  Batman ,  Beetlejuice , and  The Nightmare Before Christmas . Danny opens up about his unconventional path into composing, the challenges of being underestimated...

In this conversation, I sit down with Elliot Mintz, the man who became John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s closest confidant during their most radical and reclusive years. Elliot shares how a single radio interview turned into hundreds of late-night calls, secret meetings in Ojai, and a front-row seat to Lennon’s life after the Beatles. We talk about government surveillance, artistic risk, and the quiet co...