Remembering Nirvana: Billy Corgan's Reflections on Smells Like Teen Spirit and Kurt Cobain
Billy Corgan reminisces about the time when he first heard Nirvana's iconic song, Smells Like Teen Spirit. The memory dates back to July 4, 1991, when Corgan visited his friend Butch Vig in Madison, Wisconsin. Vig, who had produced Smashing Pumpkins' debut album, Gish, earlier that year, had just finished working on Nirvana's Nevermind album in Los Angeles. Corgan vividly recalls the moment when Vig played the unreleased cassette of Nirvana's album on a boombox, with only a handful of people having heard the song at that time.
As Corgan listened to the opening chords of Smells Like Teen Spirit, he initially thought it resembled Boston's More Than A Feeling riff. However, as the song progressed, he recognized his own guitar sound in the track, attributing it to Vig's influence. Corgan was captivated by the song's structure and felt that it was destined to become a classic, acknowledging Cobain's talent and musical prowess.
Despite never forming a close friendship with Kurt Cobain, Corgan acknowledged Cobain's exceptional talent and described him as the most gifted individual of their generation. Corgan expressed his competitive nature and ambition for the Smashing Pumpkins to be recognized as the top band of their era. Reflecting on Cobain's untimely death in 1994, Corgan mourned the loss of his formidable rival and admired Cobain's unparalleled musical abilities.
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Corgan emphasized his admiration for Cobain's talent and legacy, comparing him to iconic musicians like John Lennon and Prince. While acknowledging Cobain's absence, Corgan expressed his determination to establish the Smashing Pumpkins as a dominant force in the music industry, driven by his relentless pursuit of musical excellence.