Billy Corgan‘s done gone expressing opinions again, this time chatting to conspiracy theorist extraordinaire Alex Jones. Again.
Jones, who might be remembered for his titanic clash with Piers Morgan over gun control, hosts his own very popular satellite radio show, The Alex Jones Show. A self-described libertarian, Jones claims the moon landings were faked and that the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11 were both inside jobs, while also bringing attention to the secretive Bilderberg Group.
Corgan, appearing on same day as “vaccine awareness” campaigner Andrew Wakefield, had a lot of things to say, but it’s Corgan’s comments on “social justice warriors” that have got him into hot water.
After Jones had a little rant about the progressives of this generation, the “hashtag generation” if you will, The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, nodding his head, said (in part): “They’re Maoists. They have the Little Red Book in their hand. You’re not gonna get them back,” before agreeing with a Jones interruption.
“It’s a cult. And the only thing that’s going to adjust their ideological fixation is reality. I predict that this hashtag generation… I’ve watch those clips and I’m horrified as somebody who believes in free speech and is an artist, because those people are gonna be coming for me. Let’s face it. It may not be tomorrow, but it’s soon enough because I said the wrong thing on the wrong day because I was tired and I didn’t take my X2 that day, or whatever. You know what I mean? It’s like, to live like that, to live where every word is a landmine–you know what I’m saying–it’s not the world I want to live in.”
Corgan goes on, talking about the “social justice warrior movement” of the “hashtag generation”, bringing up the KKK in addition to already describing it as a cult and comparing progressives to Maoists.
The whole interview goes for almost 23 minutes. Suffice to say, there’s a lot said and it’s difficult to transcribe the important bits (partially because Jones loves a good rant).
You very well might have already thought Corgan’s a bit of a loon, or at least someone who generally likes attention for saying silly things. Rolling Stone and Pitchfork are reporting this radio show appearance of his as pretty much another example of that.
Although, considering Corgan’s comments on “freedom of speech” – despite the fact that the notion he’s after is probably closer to “freedom of expression” – to not give him a fair hearing only proves his argument. One could probably describe Corgan’s views as politically homeless; after all, he certainly dressed that way for the show (was he not told that were going to be filming it?).
Make your own mind up about Corgan’s comments and fashion sense in the excerpt of Jones’ show down below, in which they discuss far more than political correctness, including wrestling and piracy.
WATCH: Billy Corgan interview on the Alex Jones Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9J6R571HJc
