Billy Corgan and Bill Burr: Stumbling into Something Bigger Together

Billy Corgan and Bill Burr's potential half-brother relationship has become a surprising revelation that feels larger than life.

A Surprising Connection

Billy Corgan, the frontman of the iconic band Smashing Pumpkins, recently shared his thoughts on the possibility that he and comedian Bill Burr might be half-brothers. This revelation has taken both of them by surprise, leading to feelings that they “stumbled into something bigger than us.”

The idea of their potential familial connection first surfaced last year when Corgan appeared as a guest on Howie Mandel's podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff. During the episode, he recounted a conversation with his stepmother who mentioned, “Do you know who Bill Burr is? Bill Burr might be one of the children that your father sired in his days of being a travelling musician.”

An Unexpected Podcast Reunion

Shortly after Corgan's revelation, Howie Mandel surprised Burr during an episode of his podcast, bringing Corgan onto the show for an unexpected meeting. Burr, who is known for his quick wit, humorously quipped: “What was supposed to happen? Are we going to go play catch? We’re both in our 50s.”

However, the surprise reunion didn’t sit well with Burr. In a subsequent interview, he expressed his frustration over Mandel’s decision, stating, “I did not appreciate what Howie did. Not at all.” He further elaborated, calling Mandel a “Hollywood whore” who doesn’t care about the repercussions of his actions.

Reflecting on Their Meeting

Billy Corgan reflected on the surreal nature of their first encounter in a new interview with GQ. He noted, “It was pretty surreal. First of all, I’d never met Bill Burr. Secondly, he really does look like my father, like in person.” Corgan shared that shaking hands with someone who has such a physical resemblance to his father was a strange experience.

“There’s all these questions, and then you’re thrown into a situation where there’s a camera rolling... what was captured was truly this awkward exchange of, ‘OK, what do we do with this information?’” Corgan recounted. He elaborated, “Bill's mind is lightning-quick, and he’s viciously funny… So it was a very interesting dynamic.”

The Bigger Picture

Corgan emphasized that despite the awkwardness, Burr was gracious about the whole situation and made it clear that Corgan is always welcome in his world. “We realized that both of us had stumbled into something bigger than us,” he added, highlighting the unique bond they had formed, regardless of their biological connection.

Billy Corgan's Upcoming Projects

In other news, Billy Corgan recently discussed his new podcast, The Magnificent Others, where he aims to celebrate misunderstood figures in culture. He also shared his excitement about participating in the last-ever Black Sabbath show, expressing his deep admiration for the band. “Black Sabbath are my favourite all-time band in my heart. I’ve loved Sabbath since I was a kid,” he said.

Corgan added that he will be performing alongside renowned musicians such as Tom Morello and Adam Jones. “See, Adam, Tom and I all grew up in the same sort of general vicinity. Tom had this idea – what he calls ‘The Illinois Boys’ – that The Illinois Boys would get together and play, so that’s cool. I love it.”

FAQs

• What prompted Billy Corgan and Bill Burr to explore their potential family connection? Billy Corgan's stepmother suggested that Bill Burr might be one of the children from his father's past as a travelling musician.
• How did the public first learn about Corgan and Burr's possible relation? The revelation came when Corgan appeared on Howie Mandel's podcast and mentioned his stepmother's comments.
• What was Bill Burr's reaction to the surprise meeting with Corgan? Burr expressed frustration about being surprised by Howie Mandel and felt uncomfortable with the situation.
• How did Corgan describe his first meeting with Burr? Corgan described it as surreal and noted that Burr resembles his father. He highlighted the awkwardness of being filmed during their initial encounter.
• What upcoming projects is Billy Corgan involved in? Corgan is working on his new podcast, The Magnificent Others, and is set to perform at the last-ever Black Sabbath show.

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