Billy Corgan has entered an auction to purchase Courtney Love's handwritten lyrics to Hole's "Violet," which was inspired by her relationship with the Smashing Pumpkins vocalist.
In a post shared on Instagram, Corgan announced that he had purchased three tickets for the auction of the lyrics for "Violet," which appeared on Hole's 1994 studio album, Live Through This. The auction is part of a benefit for the wildlife sanctuary Ellis Park, a charity that cares for rescued animals.
"I just bought my ticket for the Ellis Park Wildlife Sanctuary auction for the lyrics for ‘Violet’ written by Courtney Love," he said in the clip, which can be seen below. "Now, it’s made a lot of press this week that this auction’s going off so I’ve actually bought my ticket because I’d like to win these lyrics because I think it’s about a guy I know a little bit and I’d love to put that on my wall."
He encouraged fans to support Ellis Park if they can, noting that he entered three times. "I am in it to win it," he added.
"Violet" was partially inspired by Love's relationship with Corgan, whom she dated in 1991. They later split after she found out that he was dating someone else at the same time. However, they reconciled in 2006, which led to a public spat online when things once again turned sour. They reconciled again in 2018 when Love performed alongside Corgan for the Smashing Pumpkins' 30th anniversary show.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times in 2020, he said that Courtney Love is one of the "few people that really matter" to him. "I’ve said stupid stuff, she’s said stupid stuff," he added. "But we talk every once in a while, and it’s totally lucid. It’s a joy to just celebrate that. We made it through, and there’s certainly plenty of wreckage along the way … but it’s more of a family bond for us."
Upon the launch of the auction, Love told NME that Corgan wasn't the only inspiration behind "Violet."
"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," she said. "Sometimes I just channel whatever comes." In 1995, she joked that "Violet" was "a song about a jerk," who she "hexed," causing Corgan to lose his hair."
In a post on his Instagram Stories, Corgan joked that he wrote part of the song but added, "I will always love this song. Love you Court."