News

Fender launches Billy Corgan guitar brand

3:53 p.m. · July 3, 2008 · by Ethan Stanislawski

In a release that would be significantly more exciting in 1995 than in 2008, Fender announced that it will release a line of Stratocasters in honor of Billy Corgan, guitarist for Zwanhimself Smashing Pumpkins, the decade-defining alternative rock band who released the classic 90s albums Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness. While many music snobs have turned away from Corgan this decade, this line of guitars may actually be of interest to them: the Corgan guitars will feature a high-gain, versatile tone that's ideally suited for shoegaze. Smashing Pumpkins may have seen the influence wane, but My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain certainly haven't.

Previous guitarists to earn the Fender treatment include Clapton,  Buddy Guy, Elvis Costello and fellow alternative rock icon, Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis.

[Rolling Stone via Paper Thin Walls]