Billy Corgan announces silent film set to music

William Patrick Corgan, better known as Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, has announced Pillbox, a silent film set to music from his highly-anticipated forthcoming Rick Rubin produced solo album Ogilala, due out October 13th via BMG. Corgan also shared the film’s official trailer which can be seen below.

“I thought it was a different approach to listening to an album, to watch it in essence with a related, albeit non-linear, silent movie. Art is art. And together the two pieces create a work unto itself,” shares Corgan on the film’s connection to his new album.

Inspired by a hero’s journey, Pillbox was written by Corgan, and directed by Corgan alongside longtime collaborator Linda Strawberry. The film is a Strawberry-Blank Assassin Production and stars: Harry Holmes, Rai Quartley, Anna Steers, Kalpana Pot, Hardeep Manak, Los Angela, Paul Seroka, Amelya Hensley, and Ike Catcher.

Corgan has also announced four intimate screenings of the film in London, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. Tickets for the screenings will go on sale at this Friday, September 22nd at 11 am PT. Fans who attend the screenings will receive a limited edition movie poster.

Pillbox Screenings

October 5 – London, UK. Royal Society of Arts *
October 9 – Los Angeles, CA. Los Feliz Theatre +
October 11 – Chicago, IL. Music Box Theatre #
October 12 – New York, NY. Tribeca Screening Room #

*Appearance by Corgan
#Appearances by Corgan and co-director, Linda Strawberry
+Appearances by co-director, Linda Strawberry and select cast members

Corgan announced Ogilala last month and shared its striking first track “Aeronaut,” which is available at all digital outlets. Produced by Rick Rubin and recorded at Shangri La studios in Malibu, Ogilala presents Corgan’s distinctive vocals and melodies across a sparse, but rich palette of acoustic guitar, piano, and strings.

Ogilala will be available digitally as well as physically on CD and 180-gram gatefold vinyl. A limited edition opaque blue vinyl will be available directly from Corgan’s web store and a limited edition pink vinyl will be available at select indie retailers. Fans who pre-order the album will receive an immediate download of “Aeronaut.”

Next month, Corgan will embark on a solo acoustic North American tour that kicks off on October 14th in Brooklyn, NY and wraps up on November 12th in Los Angeles, CA with a four night stint at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. These intimate performances will see Corgan perform songs from Ogilala, as well as a second set which will span works from his earliest days through his years as the frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins and beyond.

Tour Dates:

October 14- Brooklyn, NY. Murmrr Theatre
October 15- Brooklyn, NY. Murmrr Theatre
October 18- Wilmington, DE. Grand Opera House
October 20- Toronto, ON. Queen Elizabeth Theatre
October 24- Chicago, IL. Athenaeum Theatre
October 25- Chicago, IL. Athenaeum Theatre
October 27- Nashville, TN. CMA Theater
October 29 – Boulder, CO. Boulder Theater
November 1- San Francisco, CA. Herbst Theatre
November 2- San Francisco, CA. Herbst Theatre
November 9- Los Angeles, CA. Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery
November 10- Los Angeles, CA. Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery
November 11- Los Angeles, CA. Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery
November 12 – Los Angeles, CA. Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com