No doubt that regular readers are familiar with the satirical Billy Corgan Twitter gimmick. It’s really taken off in a ways that I could not have foreseen, and I have to assume that you all might be interested in an update. First, Corgan himself has acknowledged its existence.

Official statement from the Pumpkin King, found in paragraph six of his mission statement thesis:

I do plan on doing other things coming up though. I have notions to start 2 other bands and also release some more solo work. I would love to get into more details on those projects but I would like to secure the domain names first because I don’t want to have to fight to get them back later. It’s bad enough that I have someone posing as me on Twitter LOL…the general idea is the work of the other groups and solo may intertwine with the SP album as far as a release schedule would go. But I’m all ready ahead of myself there

Yes, it is bad enough.

It’s hard to glean exactly how he feels about it, though. I mean, he does finish the sentence with a hearty lol (in ALL CAPS). So perhaps he has a sense of humor after all. Or… it could also be the type of lawl that’s more along the lines of “heh heh… cute. Kill him.” That remains to be seen, but I’ve gone on and removed my mailing address from this blog.

At the very least, of course, I’m thankful that fake Billy is still around to discuss his drama (today Billy is bummed because Dave Grohl won’t drum with him, claiming he doesn’t play in one-man bands… not to mention he also sat on his bucket hat by accident).

A lot of people get the jokes and are as entertained by these web 2.0 antics as I am. However, I’m quite dismayed at how many people still really think they’re talking to Billy – despite the fact that the bio line reads “completely satirical,” despite the fact that the profile picture is an image of Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series, despite the completely insane things said on there, despite Billy’s own acknowledgement that the account is indeed a fake. That’s insane, ya’ll.

And now radio stations are reading the Corgan Twitter!

Marco is a DJ for Star 98.7 in Los Angeles, as well as the beloved KEXP, which of course, I listen to all the time for them hott Lykke Li remixxxes lolz.

notmarcocollins@Billy_Corgan Wondering what you think about The Silversun Pickups? Damn, their new CD sound familiar…
Billy_Corgan@notmarcocollins I have no idea who they are. I really only listen to Taproot and my music, save for all the drummers next weekend
987LA Hey fellow tweeters, It’s @notmarcocollins. At 11:50am, I’m gonna play the new Silversun Pickups & read a tweet I got from @Billy_corgan!

I didn’t hear it myself, but its announcement was confirmed:

ltldollclaudia@Billy_Corgan Some jackass on the radio quoted the wish remark today, saying” Listen to what Billy tweeted. Wow, how deep.” LOL
ltldollclaudia@Billy_Corgan He doesn’t know it’s satire, apparently. What a Johnny Douche.

And of course, there’s the fans as well. Wishful thinking, I assume, is the catalyst for the cognitive dissonance. I hope I’m not being too big of a jerk by messing with these people.

Stoked this bro shared his MySpace with me:

Edwardgug@Billy_Corgan yo billy! my favorite album of yours is your solo album
Billy_Corgan@Edwardgug Really? Shit, I don’t even like TheFutureEmbrace.
Edwardgug@Billy_Corgan why not man? its one of your best I think! Still one of my favorite records! Im a musician too myspace.com/edwarduglielmino

Billy instructing people how to properly parent:

Barbie1492@Billy_Corgan You rock Billy!!! My 5 yr old daughter and I love ya. You are our favorite.
Billy_Corgan@Barbie1492 Your 5 year old shouldn’t be listening to my music. Don’t you know that I cuss?!

This has to be my favorite conversation. Here Billy demonstrates prose similar to what’s found in his poetry book Blinking With Fists. At least this dude’s trying to do his homework, though:

kylespringford@Billy_Corgan Loved Blinking With Fists, are you thinking about releasing another poetry book in the future?
Billy_Corgan@kylespringford Does a bear wear a funny hat? Does the Pope shit in the woods?
kylespringford@SmashingPumpkin is @Billy_Corgan fake?

At first I thought I was a little harsh, but after some consideration, I think Corgan really feels this way:

jaqroy@Billy_Corgan hi billy i was at your show november 15th at the wang! great show, loved everything! your music changed my life!
Billy_Corgan@jaqroy Thanks for the support, but the existence of Smashing Pumpkins does not rely on whether you all come to our shows or not.

Not much more to add – this entry sorta wrote itself.  Stay tuned for more news and merriment as it develops. It’s worth sharing a few of my favorite exchanges from people that do get it, just to keep things balanced…

eillumination@Billy_Corgan I didn’t even know you wore pants anymore. I’ve only seen you in dresses, skirts, and sun-god costumes lately.

Billy_Corgan: Fuck you guys. Tila Tequila is an amazing young woman whom I respect a lot. Pants-Off Dance-Off is an incredible, groundbreaking show, too.
FloppyNono@billy_corgan but did u get hed?
Billy_Corgan@FloppyNono Oh, indeed I did. Her specific pleasures we lovingly call “Tequila Sunrise.” But you didn’t hear that from me *WINK*

I HEART YOU BILLY CORGAN! Here’s my “Heart You” Mix, brah.

MP3 :::
The Free Design – Love You
Boredoms – (Heart)
Numbers – I Love You ‘Til I Don’t
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – Funny How Love Can Be
Pia Fraus – Loveloops
MV & EE with the Bummer Road – Drive is That I Love You
Ciccone Youth – Addicted to Love

I think full contact St. Patrick’s Day would me more interesting, don’t you? Rather than simply pinching someone who wasn’t wearing green, you mow them down with your car. Because wearing green is so important, you see. It’s a good style.

Speaking of good styles, here’s a quick and dirty mix of music that traces the general trajectory of slamming car bombs all night – from the good time to the sickness. The picture above is, indeed, the Chicago River. I definitely recommend going to Chicago for St. Patty’s Day and also, surprisingly, Savannah, Georgia.  Savannah’s celebration is huge and amazing (with better weather), and if you can avoid pockets of brodeo, you’ll have a really good time.

MP3 :::
Roxy Music – A Really Good Time
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – Endless Night
Times New Viking – My Head
Nothing People – Sickness
My Bloody Valentine – Swallow (band formed in Ireland – see what I did there?)

Like drugs and lovers, ’60s psych pop groups were all about sharing songs. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band delighted in celebrating the work of their peers with a variety of covers that appeared on Volume One. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, the more tuneful and pop-oriented response to Andy Warhol’s and the VU’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable, dabbled in many genres: lo-fi garage sounds, baroque pop compositions, rollicking vocal harmonies, sunshine psych pop, and general sonic fuckin’ around. Their original songs were catchy, trippy, and fun, but it was when West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band covered a similar band, often yielding something better than the original version, that the group showcased a more unique, remarkable representation of the free decade of love and sharing.

Unfortunately, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band was short-lived, and the members went on to pursue some pretty uncool careers. I won’t name names, but one of ‘em joined Three Dog Night. Nice.

I have lots of fun comparing and contrasting covers with originals or other covers. Have fun with me, won’t you?

“She May Call You Up Tonight” was originally written by Michael Brown of The Left Banke. Though there’s not much of a discernible different, the polyphonic vocal harmony gives West Coast’s version a more expansive feel. Like with many covers of Bob Dylan songs, their version of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” is closer to the 13th Floor Elevators’ raspy ballad take on the song. West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band dusts the dirge off and gives it a new electric life.

Find West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band’s Volume One, from the reissue saviors themselves Sundazed, here and the 13th Floor Elevator’s Easter Everywhere here. The Left Banke’s There’s Gonna Be a Storm: Complete Recordings 1966-1969, which documents everything Michael Brown did with the Banke (and some things that he didn’t), is hard to find, but you can buy the album as an MP3 here.

MP3 :::
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – She May Call You Up Tonight
The Left Banke – She May Call You Up Tonight
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
13th Floor Elevators – Baby Blue