Billy Corgan
| Billy Corgan | |
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Billy Corgan in 2010
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| Born |
William Patrick Corgan Jr. March 17, 1967 Elk Grove Village, Illinois, US. |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
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| Notable instruments | |
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician, songwriter, producer, poet, executive, and professional wrestling promoter best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois, in 1988, the band quickly gained steam with the addition of bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Strong album sales and large-scale tours propelled the band's increasing fame in the 1990s until their break-up in 2000. Corgan started a new band called Zwan, and after their quick demise, he released a solo album (TheFutureEmbrace) and a collection of poetry (Blinking with Fists) before setting his sights on reforming Smashing Pumpkins.
The new version of Smashing Pumpkins, consisting of Corgan and a revolving lineup, has released and toured new albums extensively since the 2007 reunion album, Zeitgeist.
In 2011, Corgan entered the world of professional wrestling, founding Chicago-based indie professional wrestling promotion Resistance Pro Wrestling. He later joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2015, becoming its president in August 2016. On November 2, 2016, he left TNA due to lawsuits which he had filed with the company stating gross misconduct as the reason.
Corgan was born in Elk Grove Village, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, as the oldest son of William Corgan Sr., a blues/rock guitarist, and Martha Louise Maes Corgan Lutz. He was raised Catholic. His parents had one more son, Ricky, before divorcing in 1970. His father was soon remarried to a flight attendant, and Corgan and his brother went to live with them in Glendale Heights, Illinois. During this time, Corgan alleges he was subject to much physical and emotional abuse by his stepmother. Corgan also developed a protective bond with his younger paternal half-brother, who had special needs as a child. When Corgan's father and stepmother separated, all three boys would live alone with the stepmother, with both of Corgan's birth parents living separately within an hour's drive.
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