The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

In this episode of  TMO , Billy Corgan sits down with songwriting legend Paul Williams for a free‑wheeling conversation that spans astrology, Williams’ nomadic childhood and early hormone therapy, his breakthrough at A&M Records, and the creation of “We’ve Only Just Begun”, sessions with the Wrecking Crew, trading quips with Johnny Carson on  The Tonight Show , Williams’ roles in  Battle for t...

Billy Corgan welcomes Grammy‑winner Rick Springfield for an unfiltered tour through five decades of reinvention: the bubble‑gum‑pink days in the Aussie psych outfit Zoot to Rick’s audacious spin on “Eleanor Rigby,” the labyrinth of visa nightmares and fine‑print contracts that nearly derailed him, his detour into acting that stretched from The Six Million Dollar Man cameos to his star‑making turn...

Billy Corgan welcomes Micky Dolenz for a conversation that peels back the curtain on a lifetime in show business. Dolenz explains why he always kept “Micky the TV drummer” separate from the real man, explains how the Monkees were a cast before they were a band, surviving the show’s cancelation and watching the Monkees phenomenon roar back when MTV picked up the reruns. Along the way he revisits hi...

Billy Corgan sits down with Joe Mantegna to trace his journey from singing Beatles tunes in his Chicago high-school band The Weasels, playing clubs with acts like Neil Diamond and Chicago, to dodging mob-run venues, goth “Judas” cult fans, and finally finding his groove in theatrical productions of West Side Story, Hair and Godspell. He recalls tiny residual checks, eight-shows-a-week stamina, and...

Billy Corgan sits down with Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale about Rossdale’s transition from a quiet London childhood and Kings Road punk scene to forging Bush’s blues-free, down-tuned sound. They trace the Pixies’ and Steve Albini’s influence on the breakout album  Sixteen Stone , the grunge-era label hurdles, and the craft of matching raw lyrics with arena-sized guitars. Rossdale also reflects on B...

In Part 2 of this candid conversation, Paul Stanley reflects on 50 years of KISS. Together they dig into the legacy, the criticism, the creativity, and the brotherhood behind the band. From the idea of a KISS biopic and their unmasked Vegas shows to Paul's Soul Station, songwriting, and his admiration for icons like Robert Plant and Steve Marriott. Watch The Magnificent Others on YouTube: https://...

Billy Corgan sits down with KISS co-founder Paul Stanley, for Part 1 of a two part conversation that traces the 1998 Halloween “Psycho Circus” reunion at Dodger Stadium to the sold-out “End of the Road” farewell at Madison Square Garden. Paul opens up about old rifts, the fresh spark Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, brought to the band and how starring in Phantom of the Opera helped him to navigate h...

Billy Corgan sits down with legendary Doors guitarist Robby Krieger for an engaging conversation about music, legacy, and the evolving mythology of one of rock's most iconic and shadowy bands. Diving into Krieger's latest musical venture, Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, and stories from his memoir,  Set the Night on Fire . Robby shares songwriting secrets behind classic like "Light My Fire," a...

Billy Corgan sits down with legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde to discuss their shared love of classic rock influences like Sabbath, Hendrix, and Elton John, and the challenges of forging an original sound in the shadow of greats like Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Zakk opens up about his time with Ozzy Osbourne, the evolution of his playing style, his influences, and the brotherhood of musicians....

In this wide-ranging conversation, Billy delves into Susan Olsen’s life before, during and after  The Brady Bunch . They trace her path from six-year-old  Gunsmoke  guest to Cindy Brady, unpacking the Brady casting process, on-set dynamics, the short-lived  Brady Bunch Variety Hour , and the realities of childhood fame—stage fright, typecasting, and why therapists still use Brady reruns with kids....

Billy Corgan sits down with Soft White Underbelly creator Mark Laita for a probing, in‑depth talk about why Laita documents society’s “invisible” people. Laita traces the project back to his Chicago‑area upbringing, teen fascination with street life, and long career as an ad and music photographer. He describes approaching subjects without judgment, the adrenaline of gaining their trust, and the h...

Billy Corgan sits down with musical trailblazer Al Jourgensen for an unvarnished dive into four decades of boundary‑pushing music. Jourgensen walks through Wax Trax’s cash‑on‑the‑table sessions, the house‑mix side hustles at Chicago Trax, he unpacks leaving Arista via bankruptcy, reclaiming control on Twitch, and bringing Paul Barker back for what he insists will be Ministry’s final record and tou...

In this episode, Billy Corgan sits down with Carnie Wilson for a frank, wide-ranging conversation that moves from childhood memories of  blasting  the family stereo with the Carpenters and Elton John to what it was really like growing up amid the Beach Boys’ orbit—falling asleep under control-room consoles while her dad and uncles spun out other-worldly harmonies. Carnie explains how that whirlwin...

Billy Corgan sits down with Stone Temple Pilots’ Robert and Dean DeLeo for a frank, fast‑moving sweep across three decades of rock—scraping video budgets in the “last‑of‑the‑Mohicans” label era, MTV premieres, weathering addictions, lineup shocks, and even a near‑fatal on‑stage heart attack. Early rivalry dissolves into respect as Corgan applauds the brothers’ “guitar‑and‑bass telepathy,” the dist...

In this lively and revealing conversation, Billy Corgan sits down with Dale Bozzio, lead singer of the hightly influential 1980s band Missing Person, to explore the remarkable journey that shaped her creative life. Dale candidly traces her start as a fearless spirit raised in Boston, recalling how Frank Zappa discovered her, encouraged her bold vocal style, and effectively jumpstarted her career....

Billy Corgan chats with Carrot Top about the evolution of his unique brand of comedy, tracing the path from a shy kid fascinated by joke structure to a veteran headliner with nearly two decades on the Las Vegas stage. Carrot Top describes the early challenges of being dismissed by club owners and even his own father, as well as the thrill and pressure of eventually selling out theaters and perfect...

In this candid, in-depth conversation, Billy Corgan sits down with legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter Richie Sambora. Together they dig into how success comes at different speeds, the real story behind life in Bon Jovi, and the balancing act that happens once the show is over and you head back home to family. They talk about cutting tracks in the old days, the headspace it takes to perfor...

In this episode, Billy Corgan welcomes Corey Feldman for a raw, often eye-opening conversation that transcends Corey’s iconic 80s filmography and exposes the deeper realities of life in the spotlight. Feldman shares intimate stories of survival—addiction, broken industry promises, and tabloid oversimplifications—while describing his unshakable creative passion for music. Billy digs into the near-m...

In this candid conversation Billy Corgan sits down with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo who lay bare the real stories behind 45 years of music, marriage, and refusing to play by anyone else’s rules. They reflect on their Roman Catholic upbringings—incense, confessions, and all—and how that shaped them as restless creatives unwilling to settle. From the powerful genesis of “Hell Is for Children” to th...

Billy Corgan welcomes Howie Mandel for a revealing conversation that looks beyond the spotlight. Howie candidly discusses living with ADHD, OCD, and germophobia—often mistaken for comedic quirks—and explains why stand-up remains his most honest outlet, despite its nerve-wracking edge. They explore how childhood experiences drove Howie’s need for control, prompting him to build his own studio and w...

Billy Corgan sits down with legendary songwriter Diane Warren for an unfiltered conversation about her relentless work ethic, creative process, and groundbreaking career. Warren opens up about her daily routine, the organized chaos of her longtime writing space ("The Cave"), and her strong preference for working alone. They explore how the music industry has shifted from talent-driven opportunitie...

Billy Corgan sits down with Wolfgang Van Halen for a candid and far-reaching conversation about music, identity, and forging a creative path in the long shadow of one of rock’s greatest legends. Wolfgang opens up about his drive to earn every opportunity on his own merits, reflecting on the dual realities of carrying a famous name and longing simply to be recognized as a credible musician. He talk...

Billy Corgan sits down with the iconic Sharon Osbourne—manager extraordinaire, TV personality, and the formidable force behind Ozzy Osbourne’s enduring career.   Sharon opens up about her incredible life in show business, starting with childhood memories of her father, notorious music impresario Don Arden, and all the mischief and magic that came with growing up around rock legends like Gene Vince...

Billy Corgan sits down with Rage Against the Machine co-founder Tom Morello to trace the path from Tom’s earliest days as a KISS-obsessed comic-book devotee to his rise as a musical agitator on the biggest stages in rock. Tom reveals how dropping into the Sunset Strip glam scene led to a short-lived major-label deal that taught him never to compromise his artistry. He recalls the explosive formati...

Billy Corgan sits down with the one and only Gene Simmons to probe beyond the kabuki makeup and monster riffs that made KISS a household name. From celebrating Gene’s triumphant final shows at Madison Square Garden to dissecting the band’s forays into disco and beyond, Gene opens up about his earliest days hustling in rat-infested lofts, his eye for shameless self-promotion, and the emotional weig...