Chicago Sun-Times rock critic Jim DeRogatis has this evening reposted to his blog several of his past writings regarding the Smashing Pumpkins. This segment of an April 2000 exchange (just prior to two shows in Chicago) with frontman Billy Corgan seems particularly relevant to the current moment:

[DeRogatis]. Do you feel that you’ve matured?

[Corgan]. Oh, I don’t know. Just when I would think I wouldn’t write about personal stuff anymore, I would turn around and a write a whole album about it. As I’ve always said, if I could have chosen what I wanted to do, I wouldn’t have chosen these things.

[DeRogatis]. There’s that perverse streak. Do you enjoy confounding expectations?

[Corgan]. I enjoy the energy in that. I don’t find comfort energizing. Inside, there must be some sort of thing in me that needs to be contentious.

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