Billy Corgan Discusses His Cats’ Twitter and His Friendship with Jimmy Chamberlain

Smashing Pumpkins frontman and exotic tea purveyor Billy Corgan recently spoke with Alternative Nation about all things Pumpkin-related. Corgan talked about everything from his relationship with Jimmy Chamberlain to his cats' newfound Twitter fame.

Corgan said that he and Chamberlain, whose drumming helped shape the Pumpkins into the powerhouse they came to be known as, are still friends. Corgan did say, however, that the two of them probably wouldn't work together again musically.

"As far as playing together, I don’t know, I think we’re kind of happy to not have that be part of the equation of our relationship at this point," the Pumpkins frontman said. "In essence, we can have a relationship without the stress of the band, or a musical relationship on top of it sort of altering the dynamic."

Corgan also addressed Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil's recent comments about bands with one member who writes all of the songs alone. Thayil said, "We don’t have one member who is deciding the composition of an album. You should know who I am talking about, but I am not going to name names."

Corgan was cool about Thayil's comments, defending himself by saying that anyone who thinks he's never collaborated is wrong. He also said that ultimately, who writes the songs doesn't matter.

"Nobody needs to diminish or flatter what way is better, I think at the end of the day the public cares if you get it done," Corgan said. "Where I’ve gotten it done on my own, or in collaboration, I’ve been rewarded, and where I haven’t, nobody cared how I did it wrong.  So that’s what I would say to that."

The Smashing Pumpkins are releasing two new albums next year, 'Monuments to an Elegy' and 'Day for Night.' Fans can probably expect a tour to follow the new albums, especially given Corgan's recent acoustic show, which was well received all around. In the meantime, let us revisit a simpler era with the video for the undeniably awesome 'Cherub Rock':