Billy Corgan has never been a "keep it simple" kind of guy. If you’ve followed The Smashing Pumpkins for more than five minutes, you know that the band is a labyrinth of internal politics, shifting lineups, and lyrics that feel like they were written in a fever dream. But lately, there’s been this weirdly specific buzz around the phrase Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey, and honestly, it’s one of those things that separates the casual "1979" listeners from the people who actually track down every B-side from 1994.
It sounds like a joke. Or maybe a Winnie the Pooh reference gone wrong. But for fans trying to parse the band’s massive 2023-2024 triple-album rock opera Atum, it’s a phrase that highlights exactly where Corgan is at as a songwriter today.
The Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey isn't just a random search term; it’s a symptom of how the band’s modern era is being digested. People are looking for the sweetness of the old days—the "honey" of the Siamese Dream guitar tones—while Corgan is busy smashing those expectations to bits with synth-heavy, 33-track conceptual monsters.
The Evolution of the Corgan "Sweetness"
Back in the early 90s, the "honey" was literal. Sort of.
If you go back to the Gish or Siamese Dream eras, the band actually had a track called "Honey Spider." It’s a psychedelic, droning piece of work that captured that specific, fuzzy euphoria the band was known for. When people talk about The Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey now, they are often subconsciously yearning for that specific texture. They want the layers. They want the Big Muff distortion pedals dialed up to eleven.
But Billy Corgan is an artist who famously hates repeating himself. He’s told Rolling Stone and Kerrang! numerous times that he feels trapped by the nostalgia of the 90s.
"I don't want to be a heritage act," he’s said in various iterations across his Instagram Reels and podcasts. He wants to be the Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey on his own terms—meaning he wants the rewards of a successful rock career without having to play "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" at every single festival for the rest of his life.
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It’s a tension. A big one.
Atum and the Search for Meaning
The recent Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts is where this really comes to a head. It serves as a sequel to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and Machina/The Machines of God. It’s a massive undertaking.
Fans diving into the lyrics of songs like "Steps in Time" or "Beguiled" are looking for that classic Pumpkins "honey"—that melodic payoff. What they find instead is a lot of experimentation. Corgan’s current writing style is more "prosaic" and "theatrical" than the angst-ridden diary entries of 1995.
Why the Search for "Honey" Matters Now
- The Nostalgia Cycle: We are currently in a massive 90s revival. Gen Z has discovered Gish. They want the "honey" of the vintage aesthetic.
- The Lineup Factor: With Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha back in the band, the expectation for a "classic" sound is higher than ever. When the music sounds more like Cyr (lots of synths) than Pisces Iscariot, fans feel the sting.
- The "Honey" Metaphor: In the world of Atum, the character of Shiny (who represents the protagonist across the albums) is searching for a kind of spiritual purity. That's the honey. The Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey is essentially a metaphor for the seeker—the fan or the artist looking for a truth that isn't corporate or "plastic."
Breaking Down the "Honey Spider" Connection
To understand why the "honey" motif keeps popping up in the Pumpkins' orbit, you have to look at the 1991 era. "Honey Spider" was a staple of their early live sets. It was raw. It was unpolished.
James Iha’s guitar work on that track provided a blueprint for what the band would become. Fast forward to 2024, and the band is headlining tours with Weezer and Rancid. The "honey" has changed from a psychedelic club vibe to a stadium-rock sheen.
Some fans argue that the "honey" Corgan wants now is validation. He’s been very vocal about feeling slighted by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (though they were inducted, he often critiques the "industry" around it). He wants the accolades, but he wants them for his new work, not just for the songs he wrote when he was 24.
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The Practical Reality of the 2024-2025 Tour
If you’re heading to a show because you’re the Smashing Pumpkins fan who wants honey—the hits, the fuzz, the 1993 vibe—you’re going to get a mix.
The band has actually been surprisingly generous with the setlists lately. You’ll hear "Cherub Rock." You’ll hear "Tonight, Tonight." But you’re also going to hear the new stuff. You’re going to hear the synth-driven tracks that sound like they belong in a futuristic neon nightclub.
It’s a compromise.
Corgan is basically saying, "I’ll give you the honey, but you have to watch me smash the pumpkin first." It’s an endurance test for the audience.
What We Get Wrong About Billy Corgan’s Intentions
People think he’s being difficult just to be difficult. That’s not it.
Honestly, it’s about survival. For a creative person like Corgan, repeating the same 12 songs for 30 years is a slow death. When he writes something like "Spellbinding," he’s trying to find a new way to be "sweet." He’s trying to find a new version of that honey.
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The Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey is an artist who is never satisfied.
Whether it's the wrestling world (Corgan owning the NWA) or the tea shop world (Madame ZuZu's), he is constantly looking for new avenues of "honey"—new ways to connect and new ways to build a legacy.
How to Navigate the Modern Smashing Pumpkins Catalog
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the 33 tracks of Atum or the sheer volume of Corgan’s output, here is how you find the "honey" without getting lost in the weeds:
- Start with "Beguiled": It’s the closest thing to a classic riff-driven track the band has released in years. It bridges the gap between the 90s and the 2020s.
- Listen to the "Thirty-Three with Billy Corgan" Podcast: If you want to know the why behind the "honey," listen to Billy explain it himself. He broke down every song of Atum episode by episode. It’s dense, but it’s the only way to get the full picture.
- Look for the B-Sides: Even now, the Pumpkins' best work is often tucked away. The Cyr sessions had some gems that were more melodic than the lead singles.
- Check the Live Recordings: The band often rearranges the new songs to sound heavier in a live setting. A song you hated on the album might become your favorite after hearing Jimmy Chamberlin hammer it out in person.
The Smashing Pumpkins who wants honey isn't a mystery; it's a mission statement. It's the pursuit of something better, even if the process of getting there is loud, messy, and occasionally confusing for the rest of us.
To truly appreciate where the band is going, you have to accept that the "honey" might taste different than it did in 1993. It’s less about the sugar and more about the complexity.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to reconnect with the band or dive into the recent controversies, start by separating the "online persona" of Billy Corgan from the music. Focus on the Atum Act III tracks, which many critics agree contain the most "classic" feeling melodies of the project. If you're a guitar player, look into Corgan's recent work with Reverend Guitars—his signature models are designed specifically to capture that "honey" tone while handling the modern high-gain requirements of his new material. Finally, keep an eye on the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) crossovers; Corgan often uses Pumpkins music or aesthetics in his wrestling promotion, providing a weird but fascinating look at his current creative priorities.