Billy Corgan bids on Courtney Love’s ‘Violet’ lyrics in charity auction

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As a long-time fan of both the Smashing Pumpkins and Hole, I find this charity auction to be an incredibly exciting event! The prospect of Billy Corgan owning Courtney Love’s handwritten lyrics for “Violet” adds a fascinating layer to their shared history and creative connections. It serves as a reminder that even though the Smashing Pumpkins hailed from Chicago and not Seattle, they were grunge-adjacent, at least in spirit.

Billy Corgan, renowned frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, is participating in a charitable auction to secure Courtney Love’s personally penned lyrics for the 1994 Hole hit song “Violet”.

The auction is helping the Ellis Park Wildlife Sanctuary, a place that saves and nurtures injured wildlife. Participants can join the online auction in 2024, where they’ll find exciting items like a Philip Glass-signed musical manuscript score page, a Nick Cave-donated Gucci suit jacket, Flea’s worn Fender Jazz Bass, an Iggy Pop photo by Mick Rock, an Eddie Vedder signed photograph, scripts from The Sopranos, a Norman Reedus-autographed picture, and more fascinating treasures.

In a recent interview, Corgan shared his enthusiasm for potentially acquiring the rights to the lyrics, playfully implying that the song was inspired by someone he knew casually, hinting at their fleeting romance in the early ’90s. The track “Violet,” featured on Hole’s lauded album “Live Through This” and alongside hits like “Miss World” and “Doll Parts”, stood out due to its poignant emotional depth merged with grunge style.

As a devoted fan, I shared with NME that the song carries a deeper meaning beyond my personal relationship with Corgan. Yet, in my denial, I indirectly referred to enchanting memories of twilights in his Chicago apartment, where the setting sun would transform into a radiant amethyst gemstone sky.

A piece of rock history

Essentially, if there’s a connection between Corgan and the song lyrics, it could significantly enhance music history by bringing together the frontmen of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins. In January 2002, Corgan shared with “Guitar World” that Smashing Pumpkins were deeply engrossed in the melancholic rock genre reminiscent of The Cure.

Yet, it’s important to note that although Corgan was significantly influenced by American contemporaries, and the connection between him and Courtney Love underscores their proximity to the grunge scene, some people might argue that the Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots aren’t considered grunge bands because they hail from outside Seattle. However, this distinction is somewhat arbitrary, as both bands shared many musical elements with grunge acts.

To emphasize his connection to Courtney Love, Corgan playfully added in his video that he contributed a “heart-rending couplet” to the lyrics and called the song one of his favorites, signing off with affection for Love. Their connection, both personal and creative, has long intrigued fans, especially as the auction sheds light on their shared history, whatever its nature. Running until December 15, the auction also highlights their mutual commitment to art and philanthropy, and is worth checking out and maybe bidding on (if you have the money).

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2024-11-28 00:01