The Smashing Pumpkins’ guitarist and singer, Billy Corgan, is a huge fan of Heavy Metal, and this influence can be heard in many songs by the American Alternative Rock band. Over the years, he has expressed his admiration for Black Sabbath, the British group that pioneered the genre. While he appreciates the original members Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, Corgan is an especially big fan of the legendary guitarist Tony Iommi.
In an interview with Wall of Sound (Transcribed by Blabbermouth), he was asked which Sabbath album he would choose if he could take only one with him if the planet was being blown up and everybody was leaving on a spaceship.
Billy Corgan reveals which is his favorite Black Sabbath album
“‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’. Tony was such a pioneering guitarist and a visionary musically. What makes him so interesting is he pioneered the idea of a riff becoming part of the song in a way that was almost atmospheric and cinematic. I think we really all understand that now, especially those of us who love metal.”
“But then in about ’74, ’75, Tony starts to take this kind of artistic turn. It’s almost alternative Sabbath, if you really look at it. I think that’s why Sabbath has so much street cred with alternative musicians and even rappers and stuff like that. There’s this other Sabbath. ‘Cause early Sabbath is more bluesy, heavy, doomy. But somewhere in there, it starts to get really out there. That’s the Sabbath I love the most,” Billy Corgan said.
In 2000 Tony Iommi released the album “Iommi”, which had many special guests. One of them was Billy Corgan, who co-wrote the song “Black Oblivion“, with the Sabbath member. Besides singing, Corgan also played the bass and recorded some additional guitars.
Besides him, that record also had guests like Dave Grohl, Brian May, Phil Anselmo, Ian Astbury, Billy Idol and Ozzy Osbourne.