Since the death of legendary Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, many musicians have made many tributes to the iconic metal figure, celebrating his ongoing influence on the genre.
Although The Smashing Pumpkins hallmarked a generation of alternative rock, Billy Corgan has often expressed his love of metal – even so far as to say the genre is now “disrespected” by yuppy hipsters.
In a recent interview with Loudwire, the Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman opened up about how Pantera influenced one the band’s biggest albums.
“Yeah, I knew Pantera quite well. I used to go see the band all the time, hung with them, drank with them. Dimebag gave me a guitar, gave James a guitar too. They had an influence on our record ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.’ They were one of the greatest bands ever,” said Corgan in the interview.
Although Mellon Collie teeters on the edge of baroque rock, new wave and grunge, it’s heavier cuts like Jellybelly and Hear Is No Why definitely lend from the world of metal, embracing chaos and distortion. Released in 1995, the epic double album has gone on to receive Diamond status in the US and is regarded as the band’s opus.
Corgan opened up about Paul’s death, expressing his sadness at the untimely loss, “the fact that both Abbott brothers are gone – Vinnie was an incredible, sweet guy. He loved music. And obviously, the tragedy of his brother’s death and what he went through that day, that night, it’s something that I think all musicians understand.”
“So the tragedy of the Abbott brothers and what Vinnie went through, I don’t know. I can’t even find the words, because it’s so sad.
Corgan continued, noting that what happened to the Abbott brothers was “very rare”, highlighting the love and passion they brought to fans’ lives.
The Smashing Pumpkins recently released the new single ‘Solara’, their first track featuring the recently reunited lineup, recorded by the legendary Rick Rubin.
Watch The Smashing Pumpkins ‘Solara’:
