Billy Corgan

Billy Corgan (pseudonym Johnny Goat) (born March 13, 1967 in Chicago) is best known the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the now disbanded garage rock band The Smashing Pumpkins.

Corgan moved from Chicago to St. Petersburg, FL in 1985 and formed his first real band in college, The Marked. They were only together for a few months before he moved back to Chicago. While working at a record store there, he met up with guitarist James Iha and bassist D'Arcy Wretzky and formed The Smashing Pumpkins. They began to play together at local clubs with only a drum machine for percussion until they were introduced to jazz fusion drummer Jimmy Chamberlain by a mutual friend. Together, the Smashing Pumpkins produced five albums, and were one of alternative rock's biggest acts, known for a characteristically depressing and morbid tone. However, the band was plagued by Jimmy Chamberlain's heroin addiction. On July 12, 1996, Chamberlain and touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvin overdosed while the band was on tour; Chamberlain survived, but Melvin did not. Corgan was forced to fire his disgraced drummer. They completed the tour with Filter drummer Matt Walker and Frogs keyboardist Dennis Flemion, but the Smashing Pumpkins were never able to capture the same energy of the band that made them such a hit. Even after Chamberlain's return, the band was never able to achieve another successful album, and split up in 2000. Corgan is currently producing and performing with Zwan, which released its debut album in 2002 to fairly positive reviews.

In addition to performing, Corgan has produced albums for Ric Ocasek, Hole, The Frogs, and Catherine. He has performed cameo vocals and guitar for New Order and Marianne Faithfull.