Billy Corgan Punches With Eyes, Heads To Canada

Back in January we told you about Billy Corgan’s poetry debut, where a Chicago website compared him to that annoying bad-poet guy that haunts the halls of every high school.

According to a recent message on his website, the ex-Pumpkinhead "doesn’t go out much anymore," but he will be taking trips to Toronto and Vancouver this October. To promote the release of his book of poems, he will be doing a signing at Chapters stores in both cities (how very establishment of him) then moving to seated venues for readings.

Corgan's volume of poetry hits stores Friday and has been titled Blinking With Fists. Whether this is meant as a vague anti-war statement (fighting other countries is so natural to us it’s like blinking!) or a self-aggrandizing pose (I can kill you with my fierce gaze alone!) we’re not yet sure.

An excerpt reads:

the river runs south/thru barrios and ghettoes
and starched neighborhood squares and everywhere the dogs howl
I don’t even trust the sound of my own voice here
my own impermanence haunts me, but this thought alone relieves the pressure
from the mirror to the gutter, gutter tongued
my heart speaks to the silence in me
let me walk alone/home
as the dead stoplights wave goodnight
—from "The River Runs Foul"

Unfortunately, no matter what Corgan writes it ends up sounding like "poor little rockstar," given the context.

Corgan has tentative plans to write more books, including a novel, and also recently wrapped up work on a solo album. After the Smashing Pumpkins petered out, Billy’s next project, the rock outfit Zwan, was disbanded by the bald-headed one when it wasn’t an instant smash hit, so maybe he’ll give his official solo career a little more time to build a fan base.

The solo album is expected to see the light of day in Spring 2005. Corgan, known for his obsessive and perfectionist control over the Pumpkins’ recordings, writes on his website that he has one mix down and "about 14 or 15 to go!!!" Dude. Calm down.

Canadian poetry tour stops:

October 19 Toronto, ON @ Chapters Festival Hall, 7 p.m. (signing)
October 19 Toronto, ON @ The Church Of The Redeemer, 10 p.m. (reading)
October 24 Vancouver, BC @ Chapters Broadway and Granville, 2 p.m. (signing)
October 24 Vancouver, BC @ Arts Club Theatre, 8 p.m. (reading)—David McDougall