But what was the advice, Billy?
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has revealed that he had a major influence on U2’s album All That You Can’t Leave Behind when he gave Bono some advice after first listening to a rough cut of the record.
Speaking on Zane Lowe’s podcast, the Chicago rocker and wrestling promoter broached the topic of U2 after chatting about Pumpkins’ influences throughout the 90’s. He went on to discuss a particular meeting at Bono’s house which led to some big advice.
“So, I’m over in Dublin, circa 2000, and I go to visit Bono at his house,” Corgan recalled. “We stayed up all night, and in the morning, for some reason, me and him are the only people up, and he says, ‘I want to play you something. We’re going to have to go out in the car, because I don’t want to wake the house up.’
“So it’s me and him freezing in the driveway, and he pops in and he’s playing me what became the ‘It’s A Beautiful Day’ album, and it’s not all the way there, but sort of there.
“He goes, ‘Tell me honestly what you think.’ I’m like, ‘You really want me to give you my opinion?’… And I told him what I thought,” he added. “They actually used my advice! He let me know later, ‘Hey, we used your advice.’”
The 2000 album, U2’s tenth, sold 12 million copies worldwide and featured songs like ‘Beautiful Day’, ‘Elevation’ and ‘Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’. It marked the beginning of a new era for the band following their divisive previous record, 1997’s Pop.
The particular advice Corgan gave to Bono wasn’t revealed, so it’s up to any listeners what that may be. However it’s clear to see that the band appreciated his words.
“So, fast forward a couple of years,” continued Corgan. “I run into Edge in a hotel and we’re waiting for an elevator. He goes, ‘hey, I gotta tell you, that advice you gave on that stuff really helped.'”
Formed in 1988, The Smashing Pumpkins recently released their twelfth studio album Atum, which features Corgan and longtime band members Jimmy Chamberlain and James Eha, who rejoined the group in 2015 and 2018 respectively.
You can check out Corgan’s full chat with Zane Lowe in the video below.
Related articles:
- HMV to return to Ireland for the first time in seven years
- Here’s the lineup for this week’s episode of The Late Late Show
- 2023’s best pub in Ireland has been named
- Irish star Daryl McCormack cast in one of 2024’s biggest blockbusters
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
