Billy Corgan going it alone - sideways

Billy Corgan

He was the figurehead of one of the greatest bands of the 90s, but now Billy Corgan is out solo, heading this way on a world tour and showing signs of musical perversity. On his first solo album, TheFutureEmbrace(out June 27), the former Smashing Pumpkin covers the BeeGees, invites the Cure's Robert Smith to sing, and turns the synthesisers up loud.

Corgan plays Auckland's St James Theatre on July 27.

For those still clutching on to Pumpkins' tunes like Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, Today and I Am One, or his more recent work in Zwan, never fear, Corgan hasn't gone totally experimental.

There are actually songs on TheFutureEmbrace like the cover of the BeeGees' To Love Somebody and first single, Walking Shade.

As the man himself says, "Many people assume when I do more progressive work that I am trying to move away from something, when honestly what I am trying to do is get closer to who I really am."

And when asked about the album's production, Corgan was in a typically Corgan-esque mood: "I don't really think about production much. Sound to me is the way I express the shades of emotion, and this album has a lot of smeared paint - like a child who doesn't colour in between the lines."

Crikey, you better wear your overalls on July 27 then.

The live show will be far from the stadium rock tour that Pumpkins fans are used to because the show is designed for a more intimate venue to reflect the lush soundscapes and intensity of TheFutureEmbrace.

On his website, billycorgan.com, he has published 25 chapters of an autobiography encompassing his childhood, relationship with his family, his early years as an aspiring musician, the Smashing Pumpkins years, and his life today. He regularly adds more chapters and says he prefers the immediacy of the internet "realm" to publishing a book.