Billy Corgan (born March 17, 1967) is an American musician and wrestling promoter, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, which he formed in Chicago in 1988 and which became a defining act of the 1990s, with Rolling Stone calling the band "ruthless virtuosos". After the band's initial breakup in 2000, he pursued projects like Zwan and solo albums, but reformed the Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 with a revolving lineup, continuing to release music and tour. In the wrestling world, he co-founded Resistance Pro Wrestling in 2011, joined TNA in 2015, and purchased the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 2017, making it his primary focus. His early life was shaped by a difficult relationship with his abusive musician father, and he taught himself guitar in high school after discovering hard rock and alternative influences. His solo discography includes Ogilala (2017) and Cotillions (2019), highlighting his ongoing creative output alongside his wrestling ventures.