Billy Corgan Regrets Lack Of 'Innovation' In Rock Music

Billy Corgan (Instagram @billyorgan)

JAKARTA - In an interview with host Jen Eckert's recent "soundcheck" show, The Smashingvisist Billy Corgan discussed the impact the internet and social media have had on the evolution of rock music for decades.

"We have faced some kind of economic and cultural change with music turning to digital that has completely changed an unbroken narrative for about a hundred years about how people release and consume music. And the fact that the catalog is more present by clicking a button, in my opinion, puts the band in a different situation in terms of how to reach the audience," Billy started.

"So in my opinion, the emphasis in rock music on innovation is less and more on maintaining your own position. My own band, we are encouraged to continue to innovate, even when our fans are disappointed. So it's hard to say. Yes, this is not really growing as it should be, but it requires a different world, "he continued.

"And, of course, when the internet becomes something important, when digital media becomes something important, it changes everything it changes journalism, it changes politics. So, that's what to expect."

"When alternative music starts, it comes from underground. So the first wave of it is, 'Who's in? Who's out?' And it looks like this second wave is coming."

"And we, as the first wave, look around and say, 'Who are these other bands and where do they come from?' Of course, this is a moment that has occurred from generation to generation and is indeed suspected, but at that time it seemed like a group of people were wearing grunge flanel shirts and suddenly everyone swayed and did what we did a few years earlier.

"So, in my opinion, we treat people who are in the second and third waves as smugglers."