Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is putting his hat in the ring to own a piece of rock history. The singer revealed his playful intent to win an auction featuring Courtney Love’s handwritten lyrics to Hole’s iconic single “Violet.” The song, released in 1994 as part of Hole’s Live Through This album, is widely known to be inspired by Love’s relationship with Corgan in the early 1990s.
Corgan’s Lighthearted Auction Bid
In a video posted to Instagram on November 17, Corgan shared that he had purchased three tickets for $20 as part of Ellis Park Wildlife Sanctuary’s auction for Love’s original “Violet” lyrics. Joking about the song’s personal connection, Corgan said, “I think it’s about a guy I know a little bit, and I’d love to put that on my wall.”
The video included an image of the handwritten lyrics alongside Corgan’s note to Love: “She forgot to mention that I wrote one of the heart-rending couplets contained therein. But I will always love this song. Love you Court.”
Courtney Love’s Reflection
Love also commented on the song’s origins in a recent interview with NME, where she reminisced about moments from her youth with Corgan in Chicago. “It’s not just about Billy Corgan, as many might assume; it’s about sitting on the fire escape of his flat, sipping cheap wine and taking a Vicodin (oh, to be young!) while the Chicago sun sets, leaving behind a bejeweled amethyst sky,” she said.
While Love clarified that “Violet” wasn’t entirely about Corgan, the song remains an enduring artifact of their shared history.
Rock Royalty and Romantic History
Corgan and Love dated in the early 1990s, shortly before Love entered a relationship with and later married Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in 1992. Their connection has often been the subject of intrigue among fans, as has their occasional collaboration over the years. The pair briefly reunited in the mid-2000s, underscoring the enduring respect between them despite the ups and downs of their relationship.
Live Through This, featuring “Violet”, became a landmark album for Hole, blending raw emotion with searing commentary. The single remains one of the band’s most celebrated tracks.
Billy Corgan’s Growing Family
Beyond his bid to win the “Violet” lyrics, Corgan recently shared joyous news in August: he and wife Chloé Mendel are expecting their third child. The couple, who already share two children, Philomena (5½) and Augustus (8½), expressed their excitement over the new addition.
Corgan recalled how their children reacted to the news. “While Augustus was overjoyed, Clementine, the younger of the two, asked if the baby was made already and shed a few tears of concern, which was honestly adorable,” he told outlets.
The artist reflected on the joy his family brings him, adding, “We are truly blessed.”
A Nostalgic Bid
As Corgan humorously campaigns to win the “Violet” lyrics, the moment serves as a reminder of the deep ties that connect these two rock icons. Whether or not he succeeds in claiming this unique piece of memorabilia, the playful exchange has rekindled memories of their shared history, much to the delight of fans.
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