Billy Corgan Doesn't Want to Play Fan Favorites at Smashing Pumpkins Concerts: 'I Don't Care If They're a Classic or Not'

"If I don't want to play it, I just don't play it," Corgan said in an interview with 'Kerrang!'

Billy Corgan isn't just trying to appease fans.

During an interview with Kerrang! published Tuesday, June 4, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman, 57, opened up about playing the songs he wants to play at the band's gigs.

“Well, when Jimmy [Chamberlin, drums] and I brought the band back in 2007, we resisted the nostalgia thing," Corgan told the publication. "And we got basically beaten up constantly over it, including by the fans."

Related: Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Discusses His Childhood Trauma with His Kids: I 'Dole It Out Where Appropriate'

However, it helped the rockers find out "the balance" for old and new songs at their show.

“It's hard to explain unless you've lived it," he said. "Because there’s the classic thing where there's a devil on one shoulder and angel on the other, and the devil goes, ‘Hey, man, if you just write in these extra five songs that people want to hear, you're going to have a really easy night, and no-one's going to be mad at you.’ But that's not why you're up there."

Corgan continued: "And you have to remember that there's this other part of the audience that wants to see you today. I'm not talking about you play a whole show of new songs – they want to see where you're at today. They don't want some ageing relic, they want somebody who's really emotionally engaged in their music."

For the "1979" artist, "the key" is leaning into old and new tracks that "you feel very emotionally engaged in."

"So, what I do is, I don't play any songs I don't want to play. I don't care if they're a classic or not. If I don't want to play it, I just don't play it. I don't put that on the audience like, ‘Well, I've got to play this one for you.’ I think that's kind of cheese," Corgan concluded.

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Related: Smashing Pumpkins Singer Billy Corgan Defends Taylor Swift Album Length: 'How Is It a Bad Thing?'

Earlier this week, the "Cherub Rock" defended Taylor Swift and the length of Swift's 31-song double album, The Tortured Poets Department in an interview with The Irish Times.

"Taylor Swift is one of the most gifted pop artists of all time. How is it a bad thing that she’s releasing more music? I can’t follow that ... You can go on Spotify and just skip it," Corgan told the outlet.

He referenced Smashing Pumpkins' own three-part album, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, while celebrating the pop megastar's latest project.

“People complained about the length of my last album, Atum. I thought, Well, just go make your own playlist," Corgan said.

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