You might not immediately hear it in the sound of The Smashing Pumpkins, but frontman Billy Corgan is a lifelong metal devotee. In fact, Corgan openly calls Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath “my hero,” citing Sabbath as a foundational influence on heavy music as a whole.
In an interview with Revolver, Corgan broke down his Top 11 picks for the greatest heavy-metal bands of all time. Rather than sticking to the obvious choices, he dug deep into the genre’s history, highlighting artists like Pantera, Slayer, Mercyful Fate, and Rainbow. Along the way, Corgan shared personal stories and insights that reveal how metal’s intensity, darkness, and discipline shaped his musical identity. The conversation offers a rare look into the heavier influences behind one of alternative rock’s most distinctive voices.
