Billy Corgan has hit out at his critics saying he has every right to continue using the Smashing Pumpkins name.

In an interview with the Seattle Times, he said “I’m as happy as I’ve been in the Smashing Pumpkins since 1996. Why isn’t that important? Why doesn’t U2 retire? Haven’t they made enough money? Why are the Rolling Stones still on tour? There’s only Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards. Why don’t they retire? I don’t understand. What’s the difference? If people wanna play and people wanna go, what does it fucking matter?”

He also made reference to Nine Inch Nails and Hole, the latter of whom has also received criticism for unnecessarily using the name.

The band’s latest album ‘Teargarden By Kaleidyscope’ is available now. The last album featuring all original members was ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’ from 1995.

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