The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

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 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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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 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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Billy Corgan welcomes Conrad Flynn back for round three—and neither of them knows where the conversation is headed until it happens.
Flynn traces the political forces surrounding Britpop and Oasis, while Billy recalls being approached by the Bush administration. They explore the mythology of ancient aliens, the rebranding of UFOs as UAPs, and why these stories continue to shape how we understand humanity.
The conversation turns to authenticity in show business: Are stars revealing their true selves, or creating characters designed to connect with an audience? Billy reflects on his own Zero and Glass personas as they examine the backlash against carefully constructed celebrity identities.
And finally, they ask whether AI is quietly becoming something people worship without even realizing it.
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