The Albums
"I suppose listening to a double album is kind of like going to the chiropractor... It's pretty good for you but you can't force it on anyone else."
On Let it Come Down: "I wanted it to be a singer/songwriter record, but not an unplugged record. That would have been taking an even bigger risk than I'm taking now."
" I thought the most important thing was that it not sound like a secondhand Pumpkins record, and then that it should be able to stand on its own, as its own record, and just not hide anything. " - on Let it Come Down
"There's a lot of differences between the Pumpkin's sound and this [Let it Come Down]. I was in a relationship during this record and I guess I was feeling romantic and sensitive. The central idea of a song, lyrically and musically, comes to me at once. The songs seem to have this warm conversational and intimate feel. The lyrics seem to match the mood of the music."
On the new album, Adore: "The Pumpkins record is more of a down record. It's less about rock, but it doesn't sound like my record. It's sort of half-organic, half-electric. It's sort-of hard to say what it is, actually."
On Adore: "Billy was talking about a full-on electronic record, but this is more of a hybrid of acoustic and some electronic elements."
"Recording with D'arcy is always an experience. She's crazy... I mean nuts, but she's great. I can't explain it." - on recording with D'arcy on Let it Come Down
When asked if Adore would be a double album: "No. It will be three CDs... I'm kidding..But I'm going to tell people that from now on: 'A three CD Pumpkins extravaganza! The name of the record: Good Booty.' "
Music:
"At the end you flip back to the beginning or maybe somewhere in the middle and you always find the same thing: music."
"Rock music is so passé." - from 1996 VMA post-show interview
"At some point, I had to make a decision: I could practice more and become a really great guitar player or I could work on writing better songs. There are only so many hours in the day, and I found writing songs more fulfilling than working on becoming this virtuoso guitar player."
"The Pumpkins are a huge part of my life. I've been doing it for 10 years. This solo record [Let it Come Down] is more personal to me; it's all my songs and my words. But the band is like a family thing. You're a team player in this big monolith machine. I don't think about the difference in terms of the audience."
"Trying to gauge what people will like is crazy. These [the songs on Let it Come Down] are the kinds of songs that I write. Nothing was calculated. I thought about the whole side-project thing, coming up with some wacky name like the Ten Commandoes or something. It just didn't fit. There's no band. Unfortunately, it's all about me."
Success and Celebrity:
In response to what he did the first time he saw himself on MTV: " I freaked out! I didn't have anyone to call so I called the operator and said, 'Look, it's me on TV! I'm playin' guitar on TV right now!' The operator referred me to the psychiatric ward of the nearest hospital."
Fan: "Are you also famous in Japan?"
James: "Once I was walking down the street in Tokyo, and these Japanese fans came up to me and gave me some socks, which I'm wearing right now. And they are really nice socks."
"Uhh... I don't know if I can speak for Bugg [Superstar, Iha's dog] at this moment, but he's dealing with it as any other canine might." - on Bugg dealing with fame
Interviewer: "It must be hard to get privacy after
you've been a character on 'The Simpsons.' "
James: "It's not that bad. I'm not Michael Jackson
or anything. Some people do stop me, but I go to the grocery
store in my neighborhood and nobody knows who I am. It's just
when I tour or I'm in a major city that people bug out."
Being an Asshole:
"We have a cardboard cut-out of Billy that we kick occasionally."
Songs:
"It's a song I wrote about this really depressed girl I know who's got really bad self-esteem and I just sort of imagined what it would be like if she had someone she could talk to because she doesn't really talk to many people. If she had like a family member, or a boyfriend, or a best friend. It's kind of like an imaginary sort of love song."- on "Be Strong Now"
Responding to an interviewer who said that "Jealousy" sounds a little like Hanson's "MMMBop.": "I never thought of that before. I wrote it before I heard Hanson. It's a very upbeat song. I guess it's got the Hanson thing -- the upbeat thing. I didn't mind your mentioning George Jones. But a Hanson comparison? I'll have to think about that."
"I think 'Lover, Lover' sounds like a real eerie, desperate love song. Kind of like a dark cloud song. I don't know what it's about. I know what it's about ..."
Observations:
"Nothing is ever how it seems."
"People place new emphasis every week on what's big. I guess it's human nature. But I read an article today about the new front-end loading washing machine by Maytag, called the Neptune. It uses a third less water and less electricity, and if everyone gets one it'll save billions of gallons of water in the future. That's more exciting to me than alterna-rock. I actually need a new washing machine; mine broke and it's ruining all my clothes."
The Band:
On playing with Matt Walker "...The beginning of a verse will be a different speed than at the end for some reason. And we'll look at Matt like he's making the mistake."
"We are the kings of doom."
Religion
"I don't belong to any organized religion of such, but I'd like to believe in a higher power."
Other Bands:
On the album that made him become a guitarist (The Beatles' White Album): "Great songs and great voices. It has a homemade intimate sound that draws the listener in. It also has a cool album cover!!!"
Indie Rock:
"I wish all these bands with the great indie attitude would just write songs. I don't get anything from them but attitude. Alternative music just bums me out in general."
The Future:
"All the rumors you've heard are true! The Pumpkins are going disco!" - from the 2/2/97 show
Fashion:
"Some of the clothes I buy, I would never buy them if I wasn't in a band because they look so dumb."
"I call it the 'asian cat'! Meow!!" - referring to his latest hairstyle
"But now I’m so sick or seeing myself this way that I think I’m just going to chop all the crazy stuff of and get a like normal Supercuts cut. I think that would be more rebellious, that would be more punk rock than dyed hair... Just like a regular guy hair cut. Whatever that is. Which is something normal. I’m sick of looking unnormal."
Concerts:
"I have concerts in my house all the time. I sit with my guitar on the porch and wave to the kids: 'Come on, you know this song.' I can't stop rocking. If the band's not there, Iha will be rocking."
"Sometimes you're up on stage and you look down and think, 'These kids are getting younger and younger. Oh no! I'm getting older and older! Oh no! I'm too old to be doing this!' But it's still good and I'll keep going as long as it feels right."
"And now ladies and gentlemen, we would like to bring a very special guest to the stage. All the way from Milwakee, ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for- of The Frogs -- Jimmy Frog! Jimmy Frog. I can tell you're very excited about Jimmy Frog. And uh, he will lead us in this next song. So let's dance our way into oblivion with Jimmy Frog."- before "1979" at the 1/24/97 show
"What's with that Bush video? Why is there a giant fly? That's one thing you'll never see in our videos. You might see me in a dress, but never will you see a fly." - at the Jacksonville, FL concert
"Eat your heart out Eric Clapton. That's Chicago blues!"- during a recent concert
"All right that's enough. I want everbody, from the front all the way to the back to get off their ass and dance. This is a rock and roll show, not a tea party! Yeah! This is Chicago blues!" - during a recent concert
"The naked man is a genious... to show himself... a free man, free of clothes...We salute you naked man!" - during a recent concert
"Put your hands in the air, wave'em like ya just don't care! Come'on. We're kicking it like the fucking Fugees!" - rapping to the audience during a recent concert
"Two rules for dancers... Uhhhh... Dancers -- listen up. Dancers Listen up!!! Ok. So, do not touch us and do not touch our shit. Now we can move on with the program and have fun. For all of those who cannot dance with us on stage, I encourage you to dance with us on stage. But, do it in your mind. Yes, many of you have taken college courses. You know what I'm talking about." - talking to the fans picked to dance on stage during 1979 and to the other fans during a recent concert
"Well, Thanksgiving was cool but- well, I think Today is the greatest day." - to the audience at a recent concert before "Today"
"There's a part of D'arcy that wants to just walk off the stage," - comment after D'arcy walked off the stage before "1979" during a concert
Other Quotes:
"...I cried. Just for a second. Then I thought, 'I must rock.' "
"Oh boy. Bad rock cliche #452."
"Five years ago, a puppy was given to a roommate of mine as a present. At first he was welcomed for his cuteness, but she soon disowned him after realizing how much work a puppy created (plus he grew to the size of a smallish prairie-grazing bison). Though I had never owned a pet and regarded them as a waste of time, I felt bad for Bugg and began to help out by taking him for walks, checking his food and water dish, and, reluctantly, cleaning up after him. After a while I had a respect for the beast and I enjoyed the responsibility. And I've seen Bugg grow from the boy that nobody wanted into a strong, loyal and loving, uh...dog." - on how he got his dog, Bugg Superstar
"And remember, instead of looking at those computer screens, I suggest some form of sports or exercise -- Masturbation does not count. Get away from Doom and experience life to the fullest. Just like us. (laughter)" - from an Internet chat
Fan: "What kind of job do you think you would have if you weren't in a band?
James:I would be the bagger at the grocery store with the blond streaks in his hair. Probably putting all the eggs with all the canned goods."
"One day I wish that all the people of the world, all the males, females, blacks, whites, purples, whatever, and all of the adults and children would all come together and get it on!!"
"Generally I record in my boxers. Nothing else. It throws some people off."
"He's driving an ice cream truck and I'm wearing a dress." - on MTV Videography, date unkown
"Instead of going onstage, I'll just accidentally walk out in the audience." - on being shortsighted
