Billy Corgan

About

Also known as: WPC, William Patrick Corgan, Jr.

Billy Corgan is the driving force behind the Smashing Pumpkins, the Chicago band he co founded in 1988 and has steered ever since as its lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter. Rolling Stone once called him and his bandmates "ruthless virtuosos", and Corgan is widely credited with helping shape what alternative rock became in the 1990s. The Pumpkins broke through with the multi platinum Siamese Dream before reforming in 2007 with Corgan as the one constant member through a revolving lineup. Outside the Pumpkins, Corgan has kept busy on his own terms. He released the solo album TheFutureEmbrace in 2005, returned to solo work with Ogilala in 2017, and followed that up with Cotillions in 2019. His side project Zwan came and went in the early 2000s, and he even published a poetry collection, Blinking with Fists, in 2004. Since 2017 he has also owned the National Wrestling Alliance, a commitment he takes seriously enough to make it a genuine focus.