Billy Corgan before he was famous

The nobody years

1. 

   1970s Glendale Heights, alone

   He moved to Glendale Heights, then stayed with his stepmother.

   Moved to Glendale Heights with his father and stepmother, and stayed with his stepmother when they separated. Source

2. 

   early 1980s Savings for a guitar

   He gave his savings to his father for a knock-off Les Paul.

   Gave his savings to his father, who bought him a used Les Paul knock-off, and taught himself to play. Source

3. 

   1985-1986 Florida, then nothing

   His band moved to Florida, found nothing, and broke up.

   Moved that band to St. Petersburg, Florida, where it found no success and broke up. Source

4. 

   1987 Behind the counter

   Back in Chicago, he took a job behind a record store counter.

   Went back to Chicago and took a job behind the counter of a record store. Source

5. 

   1987 Meeting James Iha

   At that store he met James Iha; they recorded demos.

   Met James Iha while working at that store, and they began recording demos together. Source

6. 1967

   Was born in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood of Chicago. Source

7. around 1970

   After his parents divorced he was raised first by his great-grandmother, then his grandmother. Source

8. 1985

   Turned down college offers to play music full time. Source

9. 1985

   Formed a band called the Marked, named after the birthmarks he and his drummer shared. Source

10. July 1988

    Played the first Smashing Pumpkins show as a duo with a drum machine, at a Polish bar called Chicago 21. Source

11. 1988

    Recruited bassist D'arcy Wretzky after arguing with her about a band outside a show. Source

Reconstructions of documented moments, generated with AI. Not archive photographs, and not depictions of real people. © The Nobody Years