Billy Corgan

Date: 2025-03-04 | Duration: 2h 53m

Episode Overview

The host of 'The Magnificent Others' podcast joins Joe for a wide-ranging conversation about music, the future of the industry, and a bizarre ongoing joke that follows him everywhere: people keep telling him he looks like Bill Burr. The origin story is wild — ten years ago his stepmother asked if he knew who Bill Burr was, he had no idea who he was, and now everywhere he goes (including on Howie Mandel's show, where Howie greeted him with 'here comes Bill Burr') it happens again. He finally just told the whole story on Howie's show to get it out in the open. Beyond the Burr parallel, the conversation digs into how AI and streaming are fundamentally reshaping music — how independent artists who build direct relationships with their fans are going to win as the old industry model collapses, and how what's coming for music is exactly what happened in podcasting: the talent gets more of what they want, the fans get more of what they want.

About Billy Corgan

Billy Corgan is a multifaceted musician, songwriter, and producer best known as the frontman of the iconic alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. With a career spanning over three decades, Corgan has penned numerous hits, including "1979" and "Tonight, Tonight," which have left an indelible mark on the music landscape. His latest album, "Ogilala," produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, showcases his evolution as an artist and a poet, reflecting his deep introspection and innovative spirit. Beyond music, Corgan is also an entrepreneur, actively involved in wrestling and other creative ventures, making him a captivating figure whose artistic contributions continue to resonate with fans worldwide.

Key Moments

– The Bill Burr lookalike saga — 10 years of being told you look like Bill Burr
– Howie Mandel's 'here comes Bill Burr' greeting — telling the whole story live
– AI and streaming reshaping the music industry
– Independent artists winning by building direct fan relationships
– Podcasting as the model for what's coming to music
– The Magnificent Others podcast
0:00:00 – How many times a day do you get the Bill Burr thing?
0:00:21 – 10 years ago — stepmother asked if I knew Bill Burr. I had no idea.
0:00:58 – Howie Mandel: here comes Bill Burr — so I just told the whole story on his show
2:47:11 – This is coming for music — independent voices, fans get more of what they want

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Joe Rogan Podcast, check it out! The Joe Rogan Experience. Trained by day, Joe Rogan Podcast by night, all day! What's happening, man? Good to see you. Thank you for having me back. My pleasure. How many times a day do you get bombarded by the whole Bill Burr thing? Starting point is 00:00:21 When it gets into the family and people I haven't talked to for 20 years. Then you have to break character and tell the truth? No, you know, the thing is, this is what's crazy, okay, you want the whole setup story? Sure, sure, sure. So where I tape my podcast is in one of Howie Mandel's buildings, and he has another building in this area. So I was working on something, and I was supposed to go on Howie's show that day. And they said, Howie will meet you out in the street or something for whatever reason. So I go out in the street, and the first thing Howie says to me when he sees me, he goes, Starting point is 00:00:58 here comes Bill Burr. And I go, you too? Like do you know this story? And he said, no, I don't know about it. And I said, you know? Like, do you know this story? And he said, no, I don't know about it. And I said, you know what? Heck with it, I'm just gonna tell it on your show. So don't ask me anymore. And I went on the show and I told this story Starting point is 00:01:11 about how 10 years ago my stepmother came to me and said, do you know who Bill Burr is? I'd never heard of Bill, didn't know who he was, because I don't really consume much popular culture. I had no idea he was a famous comedian. He could have been the lawnmower guy. Looked up Bill, first thing I saw was like, oh my God, he looks just like Daddy. When I was 18 years old, on my 18th birthday, my father told me, you have a half-brother Starting point is 00:01:33 that I sired at the same time as you, whose name is Bill. So suddenly these facts come together, my mother telling me these stories. I talked to my dad subsequently about it, and he was very cagey about it. An...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2283?

Billy Corgan was the guest on JRE #2283. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2283?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2283 with Billy Corgan, topics include The Bill Burr lookalike saga — 10 years of being told you, Howie Mandel's 'here comes Bill Burr' greeting — telling, AI and streaming reshaping the music industry, and Independent artists winning by building direct fan.

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