It's what the mainstream does - they absorb things and they blunt the power of it. And so the next generation and the next generation has to become more shocking and more provocative in order to get any rise out of anybody.

I dont think we're the type of band people look at and say, 'I want to grow up to be just like that'. We're like a train wreck.

The Smashing Pumpkins was never meant to be a small band. It was going to either be a big band, or a no band.

Actually, I was having dinner with Michael [Stipe, of R.E.M.] when our second album went platinum, which up until that point was the highest success we'd ever had. And he turned to me during dinner and said, 'Welcome to the deep waters, kid.' I'll never forget that.

You could have a zillion Facebook followers. Those people don't buy records. It's about a hundred to one...Record companies, they don't have any money so they see social media as the free marketing...So,...'Billy, light yourself on fire and stand upside down, and that'll market the record'. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. I don't think people by records because of anything that happens on Facebook. They buy records cause they're friends say 'I bought this record and I love it'.

In my Corgan brain, I've decided it's almost as simple as 'All you need is love.' Almost.

The point is to let the music be itself. If it doesn't mean anything to you, then it's bullsh*t.