Courtney Love, discussing the recent auction of the handwritten lyrics for Hole’s song ‘Violet,’ pointed out that Billy Corgan was not her only inspiration for the track.
Corgan responded to Love’s remarks on X by posting a screenshot of a news headline quoting her. He wrote, “She forgot to mention that I wrote one of the heart-rending couplets contained therein. But I will always love this song. Love you, Court.”
The lyrics of ‘Violet’ have long been rumored to be about The Smashing Pumpkins vocalist, as he and Love dated in the early 1990s.
But Love spoke about the 1994 song’s backstory to NME, explaining, “It’s not just about Billy Corgan, as many might assume; it’s about sitting on the fire escape of his flat, sipping cheap wine and taking a Vicodin (oh, to be young!) while the Chicago sun sets, leaving behind a bejewelled amethyst sky.”
“Sometimes I just channel whatever comes,” she continued. “I realise my comment on ‘Jools Holland’ was a bit mean – I was just being bitchy beefy. But someone has to uphold the standards of good faith beef!”
Love co-wrote ‘Violet’ with Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song’s lyrics first appeared on a flyer for one of the band’s early gigs in Los Angeles in August 1991.
Recently, the singer donated the original handwritten lyrics to a charity auction held by Ellis Park wildlife sanctuary. The event will continue until December 15.