Podcast
The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
Hosted by Billy Corgan · EN
Welcome to The Magnificent Others, the podcast where host Billy Corgan engages in profound conversations with extraordinary individuals who have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective fields. In each episode, Billy delves into the stories and insights of high achievers, exploring the multifaceted journey that leads to greatness.
110episodes
Episodes
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Filmmaker & Composer John Carpenter | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
3d ago00:56:24Summary readyBilly Corgan welcomes horror master and filmmaking icon John Carpenter for a fascinating conversation. Carpenter reflects on fighting studios to protect his vision, why he refused to change the ending of The Thing, and what it really means to be an auteur in Hollywood. He shares stories about growing up around the Nashville music scene, discovering filmmaking at age eight, composing his legendary film scores, and why Halloween works because “the less you know about Michael Myers, the scarier he becomes.” Along the way, Billy and John debate the scariest movie ever made, swap stories about professional wrestling, classic directors like Howard Hawks and John Ford, the collapse of the studio system, AI’s impact on filmmaking, and why America sometimes feels like it’s living inside one of Carpenter’s dystopian movies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryVerdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire) | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
1w ago01:21:36Summary readyBilly Corgan welcomes legendary Verdine White for a conversation about the rise of his group Earth, Wind & Fire and the vision that turned the group into one of the greatest bands in music history. Verdine reflects on leaving music conservatory at 18 to join his brother, Maurice White, and the promise that changed his life: "This is going to make you a legend." He shares unforgettable stories about Clive Davis betting on the band, the mentorship of Ramsey Lewis, recording That's the Way of the World, collaborating with illusionist Doug Henning, the Soul Train snub that nearly cost them their crossover, the game-changing performance at California Jam 1974, and what Miles Davis really thought of Earth, Wind & Fire.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryPat Boone | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
2w ago01:32:28Summary readyThe indomitable Pat Boone joins Billy Corgan for a remarkable conversation about surviving fame, making history, and keeping faith through more than seven decades in entertainment.Pat reflects on breaking Billboard records, selling more than 50 million records, and rising alongside Elvis Presley as one of the defining stars of the 1950s. He shares unforgettable stories about their friendship, Elvis' private struggles with faith, performing for Queen Elizabeth II, and witnessing the birth of rock & roll.Along the way, Pat revisits the near-fatal accident while filming Journey to the Center of the Earth, the Harry Belafonte controversy that led him to walk away from his own hit television show, and the extraordinary pressure of becoming one of America's biggest stars before the age of 25.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryTodd Rundgren | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
3w ago01:34:51Summary readyBilly Corgan welcomes Todd Rundgren for a masterclass in songwriting, record production, artistic autonomy, and a lifetime spent chasing creative curiosity. From working with Albert Grossman, Bob Dylan, and The Band, to producing hits for Grand Funk Railroad and pioneering the DIY recording approach decades before “bedroom pop” existed, Rundgren shares stories that only he can tell. Todd reflects on making Something/Anything?, the radical creative leap of A Wizard, A True Star, learning to sing by studying Stevie Wonder, and why great producers serve the artist—not the label. Billy and Todd also explore musical intuition, vocal arranging, artistic risk-taking, and the freedom that comes from creating without worrying about commercial expectations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryDave Davies (The KInks)| The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
May 2701:03:41Summary readyBilly Corgan sits down with Dave Davies, the pioneering guitarist/co-founder of The Kinks and one of the architects of distorted hard rock. From the raw explosion of “You Really Got Me” to the emotional genius of Ray Davies, Dave reflects on growing up poor in postwar England, discovering Little Richard and blues music, surviving fame in the ‘60s, and helping create one of the most influential bands in rock history. The episode dives into brotherhood, creativity, spirituality, and the magic behind songs like “Waterloo Sunset,” “See My Friends,” and “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.” Dave opens up about his spiritual awakening, the band’s chaotic early years, his relationship with Ray, and why love, not fame or success, is ultimately what matters. There are also incredible stories about Eddie Van Halen, British Invasion chaos, guitar experimentation, and the creation of some of rock’s most enduring recordsTHE RATS IN A CAGE TOUR: ' A One-of-a-Kind Show Featuring Two Distinct Sets Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness Plus Nearly Four Decades Of Hits And Dark Treasures. Tickets On Sale Here: https://smashingpumpkins.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryBarry Williams (The Brady Bunch) | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
May 2001:19:51Summary readyBilly Corgan sits down with TV icon Barry Williams in the living room of the Brady Bunch house for a funny, nostalgic, and surprisingly emotional conversation. From becoming Greg Brady at just 14 years old to navigating child stardom, Broadway, syndication fame, and decades of public fascination. The two explore why The Brady Bunch continues to resonate across generations, how Gen X embraced the show through endless reruns, and why its idealized vision of family life struck such a powerful chord with kids growing up in fractured homes. Barry also shares stories about working with Bob Fosse on Pippin, surviving the infamous “Cousin Oliver” era, and eventually making peace with being called “Greg” for the rest of his life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryDavid J (Bauhaus/Love and Rockets) | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
May 1301:37:29Summary readyBilly Corgan sits down with David J of Bauhaus /Love and Rockets, one of the quiet architects of alternative music. David shares stories about growing up in working-class England, discovering reggae and punk, the accidental genesis of "Bela Lugosi's Dead," and Bauhaus' mission to dismantle the conventions of traditional rock.Billy reflects on hearing Bauhaus for the first time and how the band permanently reshaped his understanding of music and artistic freedom. David recalls the surreal night Iggy Pop appeared front row at Danceteria, reveals what it truly took to reunite with Peter Murphy after years of estrangement, and reflects candidly on releasing more than 20+ solo albums for a niche-but-devoted audience, driven less by ambition than by an unstoppable need to create.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryErin Murphy (Bewitched) | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
May 601:14:59Summary readyBilly Corgan sits down with Erin Murphy, the iconic Tabitha from Bewitched, for a candid look at what it really means to grow up inside one of TV’s biggest phenomena, pulling in over 30 million viewers a week. Erin shares vivid, almost dreamlike memories from working side-by-side with Elizabeth Montgomery to childhood moments that felt more like play than pressure. She reveals behind-the-scenes quirks fans still debate (including the infamous “Dad switch”), how production quietly bent rules to keep the show running, why fame never hit her the way it hits most child actors and how she's channeled her platform into advocacy for children, autism awareness, and causes close to her heart.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryBilly Idol and Steve Stevens | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
Apr 801:12:56Summary readyBilly Corgan sits down with icons Billy Idol and Steve Stevens for a conversation about how a genre gets built from scratch—and what it really takes to make something last. Idol and Stevens trace their origin story from a chance meeting in New York to a 40+ year creative partnership that fused punk, dance, and rock before anyone thought it could work. Corgan pushes deeper into the creative decisions behind it all—rejecting “punk purity,” trusting instinct over rules, and using technology as a tool instead of a crutch. They also get into MTV-era fame, excess, and what it’s like building an identity in real time while the culture is both shifting and blowing up around you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
SummaryCourtney Love | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
Apr 101:47:49Summary readyIn this long-awaited conversation, Billy Corgan sits down with Courtney Love. Courtney reflects on her fractured childhood, counterculture upbringing, and complicated family history—growing up around drugs, instability, and radical independence. From juvenile hall to early psychedelics, she traces the shift from feeling like a victim to becoming a force. Together, they take direct aim at the myths: the gatekeeping of the ’90s indie scene, the class politics hiding behind “authenticity,” and the real price women in rock paid for ambition. Along the way: punk beginnings, ABBA vs. Zeppelin, and an unflinching look at confidence, control, and survival.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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