Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan on Frances Bean Cobain

2011-10-08

Story by Anne Erickson

Billy Corgan says he looks out for Kurt Cobain’s daughter

Alternative rockers of the ‘90s stick together. Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins— it’s all in the family. For illustrious Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, that means, lovingly, having the back of Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.

When recently asked if he sees himself as Frances Bean’s “honorary uncle,” Corgan laughed and told the Las Vegas Review, “I wouldn’t call it that. I feel like she’s somebody I watch out for. It’s sort of an in-the-family kind of thing. I first met her when she was a little baby, basically. So it’s like any time a little thing comes into the world, you connect with them at that age, and you want to keep an eye on them.”

Corgan realizes Frances, 19, is a big girl and probably doesn’t really need his security. “Although, she’s an incredible person — very well-put-together. She doesn’t need me watching out for her,” he said. “I certainly care for what happens to her in the world, and I’m glad to see she’s making her own way.”

Over a year ago, Corgan and Love actually got into a tiff over Twitter when Frances was breaking away from Courtney. He doesn’t feel like revisiting those drama-filled days, though. “There [are] plenty [of stories] out there already,” he said. “Those stories have been written so many times, I don’t think there’s much left. You can take a book from 20 years ago and plug in the name, and the stories are going to be relatively the same. I think it’s time to explore other things.”

Smashing Pumpkins’ upcoming album, Oceania, is expected to drop in November. Despite recent reports that it’s a “make or break” album for the Pumpkins, Corgan says the band is on solid footing, and they plan to churn out plenty of alt-rock nuggets in the coming years.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.