Exene is one of the nicest, kindest, and most empathetic human beings I have ever known. And it’s so nice to be reminded that she is actually still a FAN of music and musicians. She’s really an exceptional person. She once literally gave me the shirt (hoodie) off her back.
I can't believe how cool and friendly she is. She should be better known around the world. Most punk books, especially in Australia mention X and Exene briefly, but after discovering her music only a few years ago I wish I was around L.A. in the punk era. Her influence can be seen in the 90's Alternative scene that I was a part of.
Great interview. Mike Chapman has such great talent. I have always been impressed with the variety and amount of music he has done. It is great to hear some of his story in his own words. A book would be great. Listening to The Six Teens right now. I love Sweet. Thanks for doing this.
Great chat! Thanks, to both of you!! The conversation about the development of musical interests, small spheres of cultural groups, and discovery of new things really hits home to this guy who grew up just outside Boston, on the verge of punk/post-punk, with certain Boston radio stations and record stores playing or providing import records, letting us make pilgrimages to Boston to get new music, see the clubs before we were old enough to enter them. Later, in college in Boston, the clubs became homes-away-from-home, and we lifted the banners for the bands, trying to spread the word. Soulmates around the globe, you guys rock!
Billy's such a genius that he overthinks everything. Why does he play a 90s hits show every night and complain about people who like that style? If he moved on, they would
@@lb2696 No, it doesn't work like that. You appeal to an ever decreasing fanbase that way, people who will go to the show once in their life, just because of nostalgia. Whereas real fans - people like me who have and like every album - have no reason to go because it's super boring.
Recently went to see Halestorm in Nobelsville IN and went to the meet and greet before the show. What was cool was Halestorms bus had broke down and they were running late, they still took the time to meet with the fans and put on an amazing show. I’m not a super fan of the band, but have definitely loved all of the material they put out and have a bunch of their songs in my main playlist of artist, after this show I was totally impressed with how amazing their live show was, they kicked some serious ass! (It was my first opportunity to see them in concert). I was totally starstruck meeting Lzzy and the band, the first thing out of my mouth was “Your so beautiful “ and Lzzy gave us all a big hug and then singled me out and introduced herself directly to me in a personal way and ask me my name, she made me feel welcome and less like a dipshit for blurting out my starstruck thoughts. What a professional, and the rest of the band were extremely nice and super cool to all of us as well. I’m a drummer and it was amazing to meet RJ as well, what a fun dude! They are such a classy band!
Excene...60 years old...saw you as a 17 year old at the whisky, saw you a dozen times...partied the way you did....you sound good..look good..act good... I'm 14 years sober...and I feel disconnected knowing x the band is gonna be done... But it is better to see you happy
The one thing I dislike about 21st century SP is the mixing. Play some Siamese Dream songs on your big stereo system and it sounds awesome, then play a great newer song such as The Chimera and it sadly sounds flat. There's no punch when the drums and bass kick in.
I'm so sick of hearing this shit. Billy doesn't have a fucking clue as to what "original" fans have wanted from the band. No one wanted a rehash of Siamese or MCIS, what they hoped for was music that had an equivalent depth, creativity, artiness, instrumental prowess and exploratory nature to it. Moreover, he's literally stated that he doesn't put the same energy etc. into recording that he did during the band's zenith, and he's also stated on multiple occasions that he's after radio play and pop-culture relevance (see Monuments to an Elegy) . Add to that the constant condescending and insulting manner with which he's addressed the band's fanbase over the years, and you have a recipe for backlash or more accurately, apathy. The man hates having his music pigeonholed by those who use broad brush strokes, you'd think he'd be conscious and sensitive about doing that to his own fans.
@@nickparton5663 Really? I'd say it's pretty clear - quit phoning it in and return to the band's original philosophy for music making i.e. not giving a shit about trends, pop-cultural relevance, or radio air-play, which is all Corgan has talked about for the last 15 years as being his motivation.
Incredible interview and questions! I really feel the questions drew him out and he was able to answer and speak from the heart. He’s just really trying to tell everyone he’s human too. Every song every album really has grown up with all us with OUR good times and bad times. I hope when one day my grandkids ask my son, “what was grandpa like?” He’d answer “Listen to every Smashiing Pumpkins album in chronological order “. Because I truly feel like my life was full of happy times and sad times. Billy wrote all our lives in songs. Thank you for the interview and I continue to look forward to Whats in store for us in the future.
Fantastic interview. I love this man's body of work. I grew up in the Deep South and arrived at punk in a very similar manner. Also, I'm apparently the 666th view!
A great informative interview so thanks Matt. Even when this recording was uploaded, Mike Chapman already had over 50 years experience and not 40 as per above
Screeching weasel is awesome and I appreciate Ben weasels contribution to the music scene, but when it comes to understanding social issues, he just sounds like a talking point machine. Why are there food deserts in the poor impoverished areas? It's not rocket science. Theft has drastically bumped up and businesses leave because of that. They're not going out of business because people just don't want healthy foods. If anything, you have people protesting these businesses Leaving On The Virtue that they want them in their communities for healthy foods. I don't know if it's out of ignorance or just protecting his brand to not say the obvious, but yeah. It sounds pretty insane to suggest that people just don't want to eat healthy foods and so these businesses just leave on virtue of that. Come on
I have different political views than Exene but tons of respect for her artistically. Love her saying she’s happy in life right now. I understand her questioning her singing abilities some but to me her singing is PERFECT!
I saw cure, pixies, and Deftones in 2019 and you're reminded of how uplifting the sound of the cure is. I think people are confused by Roberts look. They should focus more as listeners.
Shows in the 90's were so fun. Miss those days 🥰 Dancehall Crashers always put on a good show! Some of my best memories with my friend Sarah ❤ we went to all the shows from the Bay to L.A. shows just aren't the same anymore.
Matt congratulations on your questions, what an amazing interview. I think you managed to get Billy in a really nice safe spot where he managed to open up and make this interview really interesting and unique. A few days ago a friend of mine, knowing that I am a huge SP fan, sent me a video regarding the few last years of Billy and I said it was super heartening to see where he is now. I don't know exactly why but it feels like there is an aura around him and I really hope it lasts. It was funny finding out your interview and the way you started it as it is 100% aligned with the conversation I just had with my friend. What I have found more interesting in this interview is where he speaks about that era where he had to fight against his old "me", funny enough I had that same thought dozens of times when listening to whatever new album he was realeasing or to interviews he gave around that time. If only you somehow win that fight, stop listening to anyone else and trying to meet everyone's expectations and just create whatever you want to create again, be free even if that means that a fan like me, does not identify with your music so much as before, someone else probably will and in the end your work is just touching more ppl. It is happening and I am so happy for him and for the band.
The one and only Mr Mike Vennart of Empire State Bastard, Oceansize, Vennart (solo) and Biffy Clyro (live touring guitarist). One of the most criminally underrated musician of modern era.... That's who...
