Corgan: 'I am not the Smashing Pumpkins'

Billy Corgan has denied suggestions that he "is" the Smashing Pumpkins and has insisted that he is only the band's leader.

The frontman is now the sole remaining original member of the group after drummer Jimmy Chamberlin left earlier this year.

Writing on his official blog, Corgan said: "The idea of identity is a strange one to tackle. For many years, I treated the idea of the band named The Smashing Pumpkins as an existential concept that existed away from my being and body.

"It was sort of 'over there', if you will. Jimmy leaving in 1996 made me deal quite heavily with the concept of loyalty to the two members who were left (James and D'arcy) as our relationships at that time were quickly drifting apart."

He added: "I will never say to you what people say to me all the time, which is that 'I am the band'.

"I am not 'the band', I am just the leader of the band. I only want people around me who respect me and my music."