James Iha about Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins
Vložit
- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- Join the FaceCulture-communty and get exclusives! / @faceculture
Buy FaceCulture merchandise:
WORLD: shop.spreadshi...
NL: shop.spreadshi...
Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist and co-founder James Iha tells that he hasn't spoken to Billy Corgan 'for over a decade'
Support Us: / faceculture
More video's: www.FaceCulture...
Twitter: / _faceculture
Facebook: / faceculture
James is a stand up guy. He is moving on. Let it be.
It's so sad tho :(
+DF E Why because he doesn't want to talk about? I love Corgan music, but he can be very harsh to deal with.
+Jimi Jones How long before he becomes a full-fledged madonna?
Exactly. Much respect to Mr. James Iha
you sound like an idiot
James seems like such a mellow, laid back guy. Maybe he has a hint of bitter feelings toward Billy, but life goes on, and he's still playing music, good for him!
Idk what some people expect. Its like he quit a job and got another and everyone keeps asking why he doesnt want to go back and work for McDonald's. Why arent you friends with everyone at your old job from 20 years ago?
For most musicians it goes.....
You answer a flyer. Join a band. Band gets big because of one song. So now you tour around the world with people you met a year ago.
@@theendistheend123 it’s not the same as just getting a different job.
Music is very personal, McDonald’s is not.
I get why he was tired of being asked but when you were in one of the biggest bands ever it’s going to happen.
I’m just glad he’s back now. I’m sure Billy can be insufferable lot of the time and James seems pretty laid back and down to Earth.
But differences in personality often makes for great music.
If I was him would just be like dude. I'm in a perfect circle now. 2 awesome bands. Billy Corgan can't make 1 band cool by himself
I don't get why everybody is attacking James here. The guy just seems really relaxed and isn't shitting on anybody else. He's just saying that the Smashing Pumpkins isn't a part of his life any more, it'd be pretty unhealthy if he was obsessing over them when he's not in the band. He's doing his own thing now and still everybody's like "Oh fuck him!"
And the only reason the journalist was interested was to get a reaction. Like James said, people come into and out of your life all the time and that's okay. When I was going to SP concerts in the 90's I thought James was helping write the music but now that I know how it went in the studio who cares?
Josh Taylor Couldn't have said it better myself!
The guy put up with being in a band with Billy and his exgirlfriend for many years haha he is strong:)
Samuel Woodson We're pissed because he left in the middle of the final Metro show in 2000 without saying a word to Billy or the other bandmates. It's just straight up disrespectful and it's really immature of him to not even apologize for doing that.
Mellon Collie No way? did he really leave during half show is theis really true doesnt he play throughout the whole gig and then leave wthout aying goodbye after?wich is also fucked up.
Very intelligent response. Great guy.
Just saw him and Billy play last night. The two of them together had great chemistry on stage it was great to see
saw them 3 nights ago and agree 100%
Just saw them in Charlotte agree 100 percent
Yeah I just saw them last week. They played Tonight, Tonight together acoustic. Glad they caught back up with each other, they perform very well together still.
NJ?
Did you tell them I said Hi?
I love James Iha. He's right, Smashing Pumpkins died with Machina. Corgan is the man, but seriously, his attempt at reviving the band without any of the original members is severely insufficient. Corgan, Iha, D'arcy and Chamberlin will always be the Pumpkins for me.
Thing is Corgan has always viewed Smashing Pumpkins as his intellectual property. Band members and style irrelevant. If he was present in a band it would be called Smashing Pumpkins, End of story. Kind of an egotistical psycho, but an effective one so I'm ok with it.
And he's lost his damn mind in 10 years!
that's retarded, because most bands don't keep their original members in tact throughout their career
Viktor VonDoom lol
Shmaynoria same when guns n roses ( or just axl rather ) pulled the same stunt
I really like James. He always seems like a chill dude. After being with Corgan for 10+ years I think I would get tired of it, as well.
lol what?
Corgan seems like a lot to deal with...
And this is me saying that, being a writer. I believe in confidence and swagger, and artistic vision, but other artists do have great ideas often times. James does. SP isn't the same without Iha.
Corgan would have been incredibly challenging to work with. Brilliant, but difficult. Usually that's how it goes.
1:16 "People come in and out of your wife."
Ah, I think I've spotted the root of the issue.
***** You obviously hear what you want to hear.
+Mike Greg It's just a play on words and it really sounded like he said "wife". I'm asian and i wasn't offended and found it funny. Why do you think it's a joke on the asian american accent when the guy doesn't even have one like you pointed out?
hilarious but mean thumbs up or down can't decide lol
Neb Uluos A thumbs up would mean I temporarily win the popularity contest between Mike Greg and me.
(Do it for the keks.)
Sometimes the quality if the humor outweighs it's potential to offend and posterity must have its way..
Great answer at the time James. You have always been such a class act. I'm just seeing this for the first time 9/1/2020 when the wise old algorithm of CZcams thought I should. This was so interesting to watch with todays perspective knowing the way everything turned out. Coming from a 50 year old fan of 30 years who has seen you play live probably 20 times over the years, you are an incredible musician and you seem like an all around great guy. So glad to be a witness to your continued success.
Sad as fuck that people who worked together to create something that became important to millions don't even speak to each other any longer.
Important?
@@chrisb3976 yeah, I grew up listening to the pumpkins. that means something.
To some , those songs speak to them. Do they still mean the same thing? But to be around when the flower bloomed is something else
It's a job. Get over it. Next thing you will be chasing the first girl to give you a chubby on FB.
@@RogueBoyScout ok DAN.
So glad he and Billy patched things up. What a great musical writing pair.
they were a great musical writing pair lmao
Hopefully it will last. Peoples core character traits don't really change much.
I'm glad they are back together making great music 🎶🎶
Every interview I have watched with James Iha, he is always honest and thoughtful with his statements.
It's always super annoying when interviewers and fans can't seem to let go of the past. James is doing his own thing and has been for years, if he doesn't consider Smashing Pumpkins part of his life anymore he shouldn't be constantly asked about it no matter how big of an impact it made on the industry. And he's right tbh. Smashing Pumpkins probably would have been better off ending in 2000.
That's the point of the interview. That's literally like interviewing Obama and him being like "well, I don't want to talk about the presidency or anything like that... that's in the past... I want to talk about my new science fiction book..." WHo gives a shit? He's being interviewed BECAUSE he was a member of the Smashing Pumpkins... that's it.
they( the fans) are the reason why Smashing Pumpkins reach the pinnacle of their fame
@@jeanpaulcarag8056 So what? If the Smashing Pumpkins didn’t work their lives off making great music, there’d be no fans. The demand for great music will always exceed the supply. Thus those who bring greatness to the table have THE final say; not the fans, as it *should* be. Fandom entitlement is on another level.
He plays with the Pumpkins again now though.
Wrong.
James just wanted a break from the constant touring. Can't blame him, everyone needs a change no matter how much money you're making. Glad him and Billy made amends
*people come in and out of your wife*
GabzitoHD eeeeeww. As long as I don’t see it I’m okay with it
Why'd you have to point this out, I heard it right the first time and now I realize it because you of you fuck.
he was talking about the interviewer's wife, right? right? .... right?
better out than in......
he legit said it...
He looks like a wise, tired frog.
A young Pepe if you will
Desert Storm ChefNice lmao
Desert Storm ChefNice loll
Lmao!
You mean look like Yoda?
Sad. Together they made some of the best music of all time. For me, it was the best.
This is the first time I've seen him talk. I'm glad they're back.
they're not back. D'arcy completes the band.
This was depressing because it's too accurate. When you look back on your life, you will realize you will lose contact with hundreds of people you once hung out with.
💯
Most of the time it’s for the better!
@@travisdozier1357 no way. My gf recently split up with me. 😭
@@TraumaER I’m sorry to hear that. But you will move on to some measure or another. It’s inevitable . Good luck.
@@travisdozier1357 🤗
AMEN
I can’t think of the Pumpkins without James or Jimmy. James added so much to the tone of the band and brought a lot of balance. He’s a very good songwriter also. His Mellon Collie/Aeroplane Flies High era stuff is great. Maybe James is just a somewhat socially awkward guy and maybe unintentionally passive aggressive whereas Billy is very comfortable in the public eye and never seems nervous, even best friends have fights.
Alot of undeservedhate going on here but James is very respectful, doesn't go into detail and is quite decent about what must have been a pretty tumultuous time. People do come and go and its only since the rise of social media that they resurface in an unnatural way. He's moved on. So should everyone else.
Anthony Langford Well said :)
froggy9191 :)
Exactly. BC is known for sometimes saying too much in interviews, but he's also better with that in the last couple of years. I guess it's a maturity thing and a mental health thing. I know when I was not feeling well, I screwed up a lot of relationships, but it's different now. Anyway, for James that was a closed chapter of his life, but then he and BC talked again after more than ten years, and regardless of James and Jimmy back in the band, it's just so nice to know that people have mended their relationships.
Seems like a pretty chill nice guy
and now he is playing w/ pumpkins again
James always handles these stupid questions with such grace.
Now he's back with Billy and the Pumpkins.
Long Life to Smashing Pumpkins!!!
Sad. I love both Billy and James and I find this absolutely heartbreaking.
Oh yeah, compared to world hunger, trafficking, drugs...these are overpaid jaded rock stars...who gives a stuff..
To me, there's no the smashing pumpkins without James Darcy or chamblin.
Interviewer: "Must be sad"
James: "Yeah, well, I guess ... but I'm worth 20 million dollars ... so not really."
I doubt any of them give a F
Wow. What a composed, humble and stand up answer.
And he's BACK.
I knew he couldn't stay out of Pumpkinland forever. Love James' style... so cool and soft spoken. His music's great too.
He seems pretty chill
it's annoying seeing some of these people pretend to hate someone they don't even know
I like how many of the recent comments on here aren't aware that James rejoined The Smashing Pumpkins several years ago haha.
I've been an SP fan since the mid 90s and I will always treasure this band. I think James is a good guy. Things got rough and the band split up. It happens. It was disappointing, and the band hasn't really been the same since, but I do still think Billy is making good music. However, I have no ill will toward James for leaving or for pursuing his own career. Watch the Graceful Swans of Never documentary. I think it really explains the history and why things went down the way they did. In the end, I wish nothing but the best for Billy, James, Jimmy and D'arcy, because they all worked together to play some of the best music I've ever known.
I saw the pumpkins on lollapalooza in 94 and loved hearing Gish and Siamese Dream! Both records are pure HEAVEN! Billy, James, Darcy, and Jimmy doesn’t get better than that! I’m not gonna lie: I REALLY MISS DARCY BEING IN THIS BAND 💔
well said James. Hard to defeat a down-to-earth person's POV
How many of you guys keep in contact with people you worked with 15 years ago? Those kind of relationships are rare.
+Musashi-san ____ Not when you were in the biggest rock and roll band of the 90's with millions of fans and millions of sold records and concerts.
+schotanusser Money, and other people don't affect all people the same emotionally.
schotanusser the true biggest rock band of the nineties was lead by a bigger genius writing their songs, and it wasnt a band with Corgan in it.
+schotanusser Music is a business, regardless of how poetic it is, it is still a business. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were business partners, sure they happened to be friends before that, but it took it's toll and they broke off.
The difficulty of a composition is irrelevant to the masses. Cobain had a way with words, attitude, and chord progression that people couldn't ignore despite his lack of technicality. I certainly agree Corgan was a master of songwriting in the 90s, however.
All good bands come to an end. The worst bands are the ones with only one remaining original member trying to revive a dead horse and can't deliver quality music like they used to.. kind of like Billy Corgan's current Pumpkins line up.
James and D'arcy knew when it was time to move on, they left when the Pumpkins had enough of a career to be considered legendary and influential. Corgan brought the Pumpkins back as this patch-work Frankenstein-version of what the band used to be, and the material from then on was extremely lackluster. Instead of being "that awesome band from the 90s, I miss them" they are now "that awesome band from the 90s, oh but they make shitty music now."
They dont make shitty music now
If you think "Monuments To An Elegy" is a good album, then I've nothing to say to you..
Jon if you think its bad then your a deluded fool
From a different point of view, current Pumpkins is still awesome. Corgan's still there to pulse forth his cathartic sound with that same burgeoning depth, only continuing as the band changes. It hasn't exactly ripened, but, merely... Adapted. It isn't a monster now; it never was. The band is just changing. Some people are okay with it, some people even like it. Personally, I love how Corgan isn't attempting to re-hash old Pumpkin glory days and is, in fact, pretty damn motivated in progressing forward in his life and music scene. Granted, my favorite album is Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, with Siamese Dream as a close second... and, well, I too am kind of downcast that they aren't rocking Brittle Gothic Symphonic Arena Alternative Rock anymore, BUT, my third (so far; I haven't listened to all of the tracks on Monuments to an Elegy yet) is Oceania. Oceania, with masterful tracks like the namesake of the album itself, Pale Horse, My Love is Winter, The Chimera, and Panopticon, No, it isn't my favorite. Yes, it is almost literally swimming in atmospheric techno wade. And yes, I really like it. And...if you haven't listened to the entire album yet, I highly recommend Tiberius if you're searching for something soaked in satisfying, crunchy, and outstretching sound, or Drum+Fife if you're into softer, but more emotionally striking songs (like Set the Ray to Jerry). I just wouldn't count them out yet. Besides, I can name a few choice cuts from each album since Mellon Collie: with Ava Adore, Perfect, Tear, and Crestfallen coming to mind on Adore, Glass and the Ghost Children, Raindrops+Sunshowers, The Sacred and Profane, Heavy Metal Machine, The Crying Tree of Mercury, and With Every Light on Machina I/The Machines of God, Tarantula, Zeitgeist, and especially Pomp and Circumstances on Zeitgeist, and the aforementioned content stated for Oceania and Monuments to an Elegy. Granted, I haven't even listened to Machina II yet, and I think I'll check it out. Anyways, I hope you check some of these out if you haven't, and if you have and still don't like them, that's totally fine. Gish, Siamese Dream, and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness are AMAZING.
Jon It's better than the majority of albums that are coming out right now. I bought it, & listened to it for a week. There's probably 3-4 songs that I personally really like. Some of it I had to get used to, but I hated Nirvana's In Utero at 1st, but it somehow grew on me. Besides, no 1 buys albums anymore. Well, aside from genuine music fans, & musicians like myself. Granted musicians are obviously genuine music fans. Most people go on i-Tunes, they buy the 3 best songs, & could care less about the album as a whole. Some of them just download it for free somewhere. The music business is in a sad state of affairs, especially in the United States. Most of my favorite new artists/bands are from the U.K., or some other part of the world. As for S.P. I kind of give Corgan a pass, because every S.P. album, aside from Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness, was Corgan, & Chamberlain, in the recording studio. It's not like Ax'l Rose, .& the new new G'nR. I'm not going to listen to some other guy play Slash's guitar riffs. As for APC, they've all but disappeared. They also went through different musicians, & this happened after their 1st album. Then other bald Billy (Howedell), who was Billy Corgan's former guitar tech, came out w/ Ashes Divide, which wasn't bad, but that was it. After hearing that album, it was clear that he composed Maynard's vocal melodies. Paz went to Zwan w/ Corgan, & Chamberlain. Then Chamberlain went The J.C. Complex, a good band if you're a musician, & appreciate Fusion mixed with metal + alt. rock. Again not a bad album IMO. From 2001-2008, everyone was being a band slut.
Relationships come to their natural end.
Still, the irony of revenge against a narcissit is a beautiful thing.Corgan is bitter because he thought he was TSP, and the band would be successful as long as he was in it. Time has proven that to be false, and none of the other original members care enough to rub his face it in let alone acknowledge it. They've moved on.
I think they all have tbh, James probably feels it's best to let sleeping dogs lie.
oh I don't know .. I think it's more Billy Corgan just doesn't have the music in him any more. nobody is claiming that the albums kept being great, and that they deserved attention. they aren't that good after mellon collie and especially within a couple years later ..
I think there is history there that is between him and Billy that doesn't really get touched upon. Any anger is kept between the two of them, and not shared entirely with the media. In this sense, perhaps there is still a hint of their closeness and respect for each other despite being in different stages of their lives
Yes. There was animosity between them because Billy felt like Iha didn’t pull his weight on the Siamese Dream album.
@@matthewjames1707 Bruh, this comment was 7 years ago. The animosity comes from the fact that the group was composed of Billy and Jimmy and the other two were just along for the ride and had little to no influence on the direction of the band. They were dead weight, and when Jimmy was gone, Billy couldn't drag them to success.
he's a cool cat
Update, Iha is now playing with pumpkins
Such a wonderful and respectful answer to that question.
His lyrical prowess has ebbed and flowed, but he has some damn impressive stuff on his resume. "1979" probably contains his best verses, but there are many others ("Cherub Rock", "Starla", "To Sheila", "Porcelina of the Vast Oceans", "Disarm", etc).
As for his voice, it's really a matter of taste. I love the frailty he manages to evoke in songs like my all-time favorite "Mayonaise".
Drown is my personal favorite.Its like the perfect SP song..
@@joshuamitcham1519 When it comes to the Smashing Pumpkins don't forget ''Muzzle.'' Could be their most underrated song.
@@MegaMkmiller love muzzle
@@joshuamitcham1519 the only good one
@@CrimeSchool138 SP made dozens of really good songs just in 3 records. You can say that you didn't like them, but to say they made one good song is goofy. Soma, Mayonaise, Cherub rock, Geek Usa, Rhinoceros, Siva, Bury me, Tonight Tonight, Jellybelly, Zero, Bullet with Butterfly wings, Muzzle, 1979 and many more. They combined hard rock with soft dreamy psychedlic music and their songs were full of cathcy riffs, emotional solos and amazing drumming.
1:17 "People come in and out of your wife"
***** it happens....
So thats why darcy left the band.....
This dude has had one HELL of a life. To be able to be in both Smashing Pumpkins and then A Perfect Circle must be absolutely an amazing time!! I get it, its not all fun, but to be a part of music of that caliber must feel unlike anything most people will ever know.
I saw them together in concert last night as smashing pumpkins in Dallas. It was great!
Iha: I don't want to talk about it anymore, life goes on...
CZcams commenters: YOU PIECE OF SHIT HOW DARE YOU ARGHHHHH WTF
Seriously do people just actively look for things to be offended by? All James essentially said that he wants to move on, why is this such a big deal with some people?
No James, no D'Arcy, no Jimmy: no Pumpkins.
well now it's just no D'arcy
Billy's newest album is better than anything the Pumpkins ever released.
can't understand why people say james' contribution to the band was less. just listen to the music. yes it sounds billy contributed most, since he wrote most of them. but their music is not only a product of songwriting. 'who' plays really matters and that makes a musical signature. im saying, even in the songs written by billy, u can feel the harmony of all band members. if u ever have listened to james' music you'll notice, half of the vibe in pumpkins' songs are actually from james. soft and dreamlike-melancholia style is james' i believe. and the dramatic madness-to-sweetness-melancholia plus a hint of heavy metal is billy's style. and sp's music was good mixture of the two style, i think. this also means, maybe billy wasnt that a control freak when making music. considering the lyrics, well yes can't deny billy had a heavy ego, but i think thats because billy has such a adolescent heart - a man who refuses to grow up. this is a former billy's fan speaking btw. james' music isnt that great as the sp's 10 years before, but i still could feel the dreamy and warm vibe which isn't that bad. anyway he still looks cool!
You have reason I agree
Spot on...I dont know james' heritage but always felt there was a subtle japanese note to some of the pumpkin songs such as mayo
“People come in and out of your wife” - James Iha, ‘The Search For The Yeti’
One of the greatest signature guitarist that ever lived.
One-day’ they will reunite ‘ even if it’s only for one concert this band will always be loved forever. No matter what rift between members life does go on people go their own ways with different projects ‘they will always hold a special place in a lot of people’s hearts.
they have reunited, james rejoined smashing pumpkins and they’ve been touring
They all did reunite minus Darcy years before you wrote this comment lol
Billy and Jimmy reunited, with Jimmy as a touring member from 2015-2018, and James and Jimmy became full time members again in 2018. In 2016, Billy and Jimmy invited James on stage for a couple songs. That paved the way for the full reformation in 2018. Billy, Jimmy, and James are The Pumpkins.
Some bands are a group of friends who formed a band, others are mere co workers.
AND NOW HE'S BACK IN THE BAND!!!!
His voice, he’s so handsome!
James you rock!
Dude's got it figured out. Well spoken.
How true and well said. Spoken by a wise man. Obviosly. Some of my best friends are the ones I havent seen in 20 years
"People come in and out of your wife" -J. Iha
Often true.
Not often but always, this is the default for everyone, then there are exceptions.
I like James' philosophy and attitude towards this.
It's cool how this played out all these years later. Glad he is back with the Pumpkins
i love his answers. it's very zen. i've had friends ghost me outright. just happens.
Class All the way! James is very Cool! In this Day of Anti Social Media and Gossip it's so nice to hear an interview that doesn't do any of that silly business ! "Thank you "Thank you ! that you are different James
This comment aged extremely well.
Deep down I think D'Arcy James and Billy realize that their best work was when they were together....they should reunited for the fans do it for us
In iconic bands the whole is always greater than the sum. Chemistry = magic. For the Pumpkins it leaned towards dark magic.
James Iha! Iha, Jimmy, D'arcy, and Billy- the real Smashing Pumpkins. 1979.
James is very emotionally intelligent. Saw him last night in philly and I love seeing this video. Solid dude. The interviewer seemed to want to take him to negativity. Would love to jam with him.
He was voted one of the greatest guitarists in the world
no way
@@cookie4049 yeah huh
Lol
I wish he could have sang more :/ his voice in take me down was amazing
I know, right?!
listen to his solo stuff very beautiful.
James , you a true Man and filled with wisdom !. may peace and happiness always be with you . Ray in Pa U.S.A.
The Iha years were the best years and the best music by far.
The band just isn't the same without James...
he seems like a chill cool bro
I think he's alluding to the fact that - despite what fans think - musicians often look at each other like co-workers, not a family. Imagine a job you had 10-15 years ago; you could have made friends, with other people you're glad you don't have to seem them every day anymore.
So glad this dude is back with SP
0:13 interesting. I think most old school pumpkin fans might agree.
One cool dude.
I’ll see you 11/5/22!
Very articulate, well thought out good answers. Say very little. Some interviewers just love digging for dirt.
We, the fans, have the luxury of wanting the band to be together forever. It is completely different when band members have to work together, at times be friends, and then have those friendships and/or working relationships dissolve. Imaging you were married for 20 years, your relationship goes bad, you then divorce. And even when you remarry everyone keeps asking you why you aren't with your first partner. It gets old. I have empathy for James.
He’s back in the pumpkins now tho
@@vincenzoantonelli9772 Glad they've resoled their diffferences.
Sounds reasonable.
James’ words are very mature. Seems like a simple & nice guy :)
Looking back this is now funny. Glad him and Billy are bros again. Looking forward to the tour and new album.
Im glad that James and Billy managed to reconcile. Did I spell that right?
Yes you did lol.
TBF, 'that' isn’t exactly hard to spell. I’d be more worried about 'reconcile'...
don't talk shit about him!! James is great.
Can’t wait to see him and billy and jimmy in concert!!
James played about 5% of what went on the albums thank you
"Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant." -Stephen King
Hes too kind. Hes actually trying to say Corgan was an asshole and hes glad he moved on from that band.
I asked James how he was doing back in 2000. He said "Tired"
Sounds like life to me. Things change and people change. Good or bad, it just is because it is.
Funny how I see people say "James sucked in smashing pumpkins" "I didn't matter if he stayed or left" because quite frankly Billy's music has sucked horribly since his departure and I dare anyone to say anything about a perfect circle....Maynard>Corgan
james has as much to do songwriting-wise in apc as he did in tsp..... F*CK ALL!!
im not a "tool fanboy" though...
typical corgan fanboy,reaching for am argument outside of music.way to go guy
Billy should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as that douche, fuck that!!
with an answer like that he should run for office.
seems like a good guy. Hope things turn out well for him
Very kool guy said it very well too people come and go
I still fucking love them all
I was hoping he'd talk a bit about why he joined the taliban.
The scarf Lol
me too
lmao
Billy joined, too. Hmm.
Lmfao 😂
He’s at peace, it’s just life.
Does anyone stay friends with Billy?