The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

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Stewart Copeland | THe Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Oct 21, 2026

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What happens when a rock legend stops being just “the drummer from The Police” and spends decades chasing every other creative obsession?

Stewart Copeland and Billy Corgan skip the greatest hits and tumble down the Rumble Fish rabbit hole with Francis Coppola. They revisit the “hell on earth” final Police sessions and unpack why band therapy involved incense and a lot of gazing into each other’s eyes.

Also on the menu: a prison-themed song with a very John Waters title, a horse incident (Stewart insists the record be corrected), an opera that got shredded by critics, a night in a Zaire jail, and a German superfan with questionable priorities. Then it gets thoughtful: the strange weight of the rock-star “avatar,” what AI means for the musical middle class, and what happened when Stewart’s son built a digital version of him.

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Travis Barker | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Oct 14, 2026

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Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joins Billy for a conversation that swings from skate culture to the lasting effects of surviving a plane crash. Barker talks about how growing up listening to everything from Dr. Dre to Metallica shaped his anything-goes approach to drumming and producing.

He recalls playing Black Sabbath’s farewell show for Ozzy Osbourne—and the family moment that made the trip impossible to miss. Then the conversation gets candid about survivor’s guilt, losing friends, finding his way back to flying, and how telling his story in a documentary helped him move forward.

Along the way, Billy and Travis veer into the Ramones, Vans, matcha, and the cheerful chaos of a seven-kid household.

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Chelsea Wolfe | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Oct 07, 2026

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Chelsea Wolfe joins Billy Corgan for a revealing conversation about witchcraft, Gnosticism, and why she was once “susceptible to cults.”

She traces the roots of her unmistakable sound—from childhood night terrors and shadow figures during sleep paralysis to the private inner world where her music first took shape. Chelsea explains how outside influences kept her feeling small and creatively trapped, and what it took to reclaim her artistic identity.

Billy revisits why the platinum-selling Adore was still considered a commercial disappointment, the Rick Rubin-produced song he removed from the album, and the price of choosing honesty over expectations.

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Scott Ian | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Sep 30, 2026

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Anthrax co-founder Scott Ian joins Billy Corgan to trace thrash metal from a burned-out Queens rehearsal building to arenas around the world.

Ian takes Billy inside the scene’s earliest days, including his first encounters with Metallica, the historic lineup change he witnessed firsthand, and the tour he believes changed metal forever. He also recalls unforgettable moments with Ronnie James Dio and Lemmy—and an emotional Black Sabbath farewell he still struggles to talk about.

The conversation turns to Anthrax’s unexpected connection with Public Enemy and the warning Ian once gave Pantera at the height of their success. With Anthrax’s first album in a decade, Cursum Perficio, Ian reflects on surviving the years when metal fell out of favor, learning the power of saying no, and watching the next generation forge its own path.

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Michael Sweet (Stryper) | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Sep 23, 2026

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Michael Sweet joins Billy Corgan to revisit his band Stryper’s unlikely rise from the Sunset Strip to MTV—with an openly professed faith in God at the center of it all.

Sweet recalls crossing paths with Ratt, Mötley Crüe, and W.A.S.P., becoming in the 1980’s metal’s unmistakable black-and-yellow outsiders; whilst facing resistance from both the rock world and the church. He considers whether the band’s faith may have kept them from becoming even bigger and revisits the awkward moment David Cassidy spotted him somewhere a Christian rocker probably shouldn’t have been.

Sweet explains why today he feels more driven than ever to keep creating. With his latest solo album, The Master Plan, and Stryper’s newest Throne of Thorns, he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

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Vicki Lawrence | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Sep 16, 2026

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Revered comedienne Vicki Lawrence joins Billy Corgan to revisit her remarkable journey from an 18-year-old UCLA student to the youngest cast member of The Carol Burnett Show.

Lawrence reveals what Carol Burnett told CBS executives when they wanted to replace her just six weeks into the series. She recalls Harvey Korman teaching her the craft of comedy and recalls memories of working with Rita Hayworth, Sammy Davis Jr., Dick Van Dyke, and Bob Mackie.

She also shares the unlikely story behind “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” and explains how Mama evolved from a supporting character into a sitcom icon. Lawrence reflects on losing her husband just before their 50th anniversary and why classic television continues to comfort new generations.

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Brian Kehew: The Beatles Archivist Preserving Rock’s Lost Recordings | The Magnificent Others Sep 09, 2026

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Billy Corgan sits down with Beatles gear historian and Recording the Beatles co-author Brian Kehew for a deep dive into vintage synths, mixing boards, and the hidden machinery behind rock's greatest records. Kehew explains how The Beatles pushed EMI’s engineers to invent new sounds—and why George Martin was essential to the band’s identity.

The two swap stories about Van Halen’s mysterious tape vault, including why a third of Eddie’s famous wall was blank reels and how he and Tom Petty raced to buy the last remaining rolls of analog tape in Los Angeles. They also discuss the decade-long making of Recording the Beatles and why Ritchie Blackmore belongs alongside Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen.

Kehew explores AI’s role in preserving classic recordings and Master Tape Rescue, his nonprofit reuniting artists with lost recordings. He also previews a Pete Townshend project devoted to his pioneering electronic music.

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Billy Corgan and the Nelson Brothers: A Conversation on Music and Life |The Magnificent Others Sep 02, 2026

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Billy Corgan welcomes Matthew and Gunnar Nelson — twin sons of teen idol Ricky Nelson and grandsons of TV icons Ozzie and Harriet for a conversation about rock stardom, grief, and the ruthless side of the music business. The brothers trace their journey from losing their father at 18 and confronting millions in family debt to topping the charts with "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection." They recall the punishing tour schedule that pushed Gunnar into a panic attack, the rise of Nirvana and grunge that upended MTV overnight, and a Geffen executive's vow to bury their record. Billy shares his own major-label battles as they debate the real cost of bending your music to please the label. That fight for creative freedom echoes back to their father's story from Bob Dylan's encouragement to write his own songs, to the boos that inspired "Garden Party." It's the story of a four-generation musical legacy, and the brothers fighting to protect it.

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How Ron Dante Became the Voice of a Generation | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Aug 26, 2026

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Billy Corgan welcomes Ron Dante, the unmistakable voice behind the Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” for a fascinating look at the hidden machinery of classic pop music. Dante recalls starting as a 17-year-old demo singer, auditioning for the Monkees, and becoming the anonymous voice of two Top 10 hits at the same time.

He reveals how “Sugar, Sugar” became a worldwide phenomenon, why he never resented the “bubblegum rock” label, and how elite New York session musicians powered a cartoon band. Billy also shares his own emotional connection to the song.

From anonymous singer to hit producer, Dante takes Billy inside the making of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” and shares the difficult decision that helped clear the way for Pat Benatar’s rise to stardom.

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Producer/Musician Shooter Jennings | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan Aug 19, 2026

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Producer/musician Shooter Jennings joins Billy Corgan on The Magnificent Others to trace his unconventional path from recording artist to acclaimed producer.

Shooter discusses his disastrous Rick Rubin showcase, jamming with the band that became Velvet Revolver and producing Tanya Tucker, Charley Crockett and Brandi Carlile. He also recounts restoring a vault of unreleased Waylon Jennings recordings for Songbird and Diamonds, while reflecting on the musical legacy of his mother, Jessi Colter.

Billy and Shooter debate AI, the disappearance of classic albums, and the importance of preserving the human element in music—before veering into Art Bell, ancient aliens, and dinosaur skepticism.

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