Melissa Auf der Maur and Billy Corgan have spoken about Courtney Love's impact on Kurt Cobain's songwriting and her role in making artists smarter. On Corgan's podcast, they addressed rumours that Cobain wrote much of Hole's 1994 album *Live Through This*. They credited Love with inspiring lyrics and pushing for more direct songwriting.
Melissa Auf der Maur, former Hole bassist, and Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins frontman, appeared on Corgan's podcast The Magnificent Others. They reflected on Courtney Love's influence amid Hole's rise following Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind and their 1994 release Live Through This. They tackled persistent rumours that Cobain ghostwrote much of the album, which Auf der Maur called an underestimation of Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson. She pointed to songs like “Doll Parts” and “Miss World,” noting their simple structure—'one riff and three chords'—elevated by Love's lyrics. “If anything, she inspired Kurt’s lyrics,” Auf der Maur said, observing changes in Cobain's writing after meeting Love.
Corgan recounted asking Love directly; she replied that Cobain influenced only “one chorus.” Both credited Love with sharpening their craft. Corgan recalled her advice: “Why are you hiding behind this hippie haze? ... talk about what you actually talk about in reality?” This shaped his 1993 album Siamese Dream.
They also addressed scrutiny after Cobain's April 1994 suicide, with Auf der Maur calling it a “patriarchal hellscape” that “burned her at the stake.” Corgan invited Love to join Smashing Pumpkins at 1994's Lollapalooza to counter a “Yoko Ono” narrative.
This comes amid recent news where Love teased then clarified no Hole reunion, but she and Auf der Maur plan shows with new songs. Auf der Maur's memoir Even The Good Girls Will Cry, covering her time in Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins, releases March 17.
