Billy Corgan recently pointed out that Metallica’s “Fuel” sounds “awfully close” to The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tales of a Scorched Earth,” though he quickly dismissed any idea that the thrash legends intentionally took inspiration from his band’s song.
“Tales of a Scorched Earth,” featured on disc two of The Smashing Pumpkins’ iconic 1995 double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, represents the band’s heavier side, though it remains an underrated gem in their catalog. Interestingly, according to Setlist.fm, the track has never been performed live.
On the other hand, “Fuel” was released as the third single from Metallica’s 1997 album Reload and became a standout hit, earning a Grammy nomination in 1999. It remains a fan favorite from Metallica’s somewhat divisive era.
Corgan discussed the similarities between the two tracks during a recent interview on Australia’s Everblack Podcast. He began by expressing his admiration for Metallica and frontman James Hetfield: “Let me caveat this by saying that I love James Hetfield as a person. I love Metallica; I saw them in 1984 and all that great stuff. And James is probably the greatest riff writer outside of maybe Tony Iommi. James has written some of the greatest, most amazing riffs, and he’s still writing them.”
However, Corgan couldn’t help but notice the similarity between the two songs. He explained, “But if you listen to ‘Tales Of A Scorched Earth’ and you listen to that Metallica song, ‘Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.’ See — a little lightbulb went off in your brain… Now, which song came first?”
Despite this, Corgan was quick to clarify that he didn’t believe Hetfield had intentionally copied him. “Now, I don’t think James would rip anything off from me, but the first time I heard that song, I was, like, ‘That’s awfully close.’ But I love me some James. And I’d love somebody trying to get a troll headline out of that, some clickbait out of that.”
Corgan also referenced his father’s perspective on music, stating, “My father used to say, ‘Look, there’s only 12 notes.’ So, that’s the great thing. We all rip each other off, and if it works, great. I’ve got no problem with that. I mean, I’ve certainly ripped Metallica off plenty, so…”
In the end, Corgan’s comments reflect a mutual respect between the two rock giants, with a healthy acknowledgment of how influences can cross boundaries in the music world.
