The Smashing Pumpkins‘ frontman Billy Corgan has listened to Geese for the first time, and suggested that they should have a fight with Goose.
The singer, podcaster, and icon in the wrestling world was introduced to the New York band for the first time during a new appearance on the YouTube series Track Star*. During the episode, the Smashing Pumpkins legend had his music knowledge put to the test as he was played different songs and asked to identify the title and the artist.
Near the end of the game, he was played a snippet of Geese’s hit song ‘Au Pays du Cocaine’, and found himself stumped, simply highlighting that there was a “Springsteen thing going on there”.
After being told by host Jack Coyne who the band behind the song was, Corgan laughed and wanted to make sure he wasn’t confused with the Connecticut-based rock band Goose.
“They should have a fight,” he quipped. “Goose versus Geese. Winner takes all.”
The episode also saw the ‘Zero’ hitmaker share his love of artists including John Lennon, Joy Division, Siouxsie And The Banshees, and more, and reveal how they shaped his own music over the years.
After hearing Lennon’s solo track ‘Mind Games’, he went on to discuss how he still considers The Beatles as “the greatest band of all time”.
“I don’t think anyone will ever beat them. What’s unfair is that The Beatles were the perfect band at the perfect time. It was that combination of cultural influence,” he said, adding how it was Lennon who proved to him that selling millions of albums doesn’t make someone less of an “artist”.
“Lennon was the ultimate guiding light for me because [he proved] you can write those songs that change the world and you can sell records. There’s nothing wrong with that,” he shared.
Joy Division were another band he described as “one of the greatest bands of all time”, and he went on to praise Siouxsie And The Banshees as “one of the most underrated bands of all time” and “a huge influence on my music”.
Check out the full episode above, where Corgan also shared how he sees common ground between KISS and the world of wrestling, as well as his fondness for country stars like Tammy Wynette and jazz icons including Thelonious Monk.
‘Au Pays du Cocaine’ featured on the tracklist for Geese’s latest album ‘Getting Killed’, which was given a five-star review from NME and described as “not so much proving they deserve all the accolades and fervent fanaticism bubbling around them, but demanding it”.
Praise for that album also came from Nick Cave, who last week hailed it as music that makes him feel “happy”.
“When the band kicks into the chorus – I mean, my God, those drums – and Cameron Winter screams, again and again – “There’s a bomb in my car! There’s a bomb in my car!” – all worry is laid to waste,” Cave explained.
“The endorphins rushing wild from the freezing water, the music pounding through my body, the caffeine, the fucking ducks and the God-roiling sky – no what-ifs, no yeah-buts, no what-abouts, no caveats, at all. I am made happy, and that happiness is entire and incontestable.”
The New York band will tour the UK next year, and have added two extra concerts in Glasgow and London due to high demand. Get any remaining tickets to upcoming shows here.
As for Corgan, The Smashing Pumpkins recently kicked off the seven-night takeover of Lyric Opera House in their Chicago hometown, which sees them reimagine ‘Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness’ alongside a 60-piece house orchestra.
Just before then, the ‘90s icons released the 30th anniversary deluxe reissue of ‘Mellon Collie’, which included a 6LP package that offers over 80 minutes of unreleased audio from the album’s accompanying 1996 tour. Speaking to NME back in February, Corgan touched on ‘Mellon Collie’ turning 30 and joked: “It’s weird because I can’t believe it’s been 30 years. I’m really excited, but at the same time, I’m like ‘What happened over these last 30 years?’”
