The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan sat down with KROQ's Klein. Ally. Show. to discuss their new album "ATUM", and during the discussion he revealed that nine songs from the album leaked six months ago and he paid a ransom to keep them from being spread.
He said, "They were all probably the most catchy, single-y type songs. So it's like, not only is it six months too early, you're pretty much giving away the album before you even have a chance to set your feet into the ground. And somehow, some hacker was offering the files for money, and we were able to trace it and pay off and keep it from leaking.
"The FBI got involved... I don't know how they got what they got... (Ransom was paid) out of my pocket, unfortunately. What we were able to do was stop the leak from happening, because it was a mercenary person who had hacked somebody -- I don't want to say who -- and they had other stuff from other artists.
"It wasn't like some Pumpkins fan that was hellbent on breaking it on Reddit. Somehow, they gave some information that allowed the FBI to track them... I don't know the end result of it yet... They had stuff that was shocking to me. Like classic stuff from bands of the past." Check out the full interview here.
The Smashing Pumpkins Reveal New Guitarist
The Smashing Pumpkins Announce North American Summer Tour
The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer Announce 2024 Tour
The Smashing Pumpkins Celebrate 30th Anniversary Of 'Siamese Dream'
Stuckey's: A Road Trip Institution - A Chat with CEO Stephanie Stuckey
Road Trip: Eswatini's Swazi Candles: Light from Africa
Quick Flicks: REO Speedwagon - Live at Rockpalast 1979
Caught In The Act: Def Leppard, Journey, Steve Miller Rock Wrigley Field
Sites and Sounds: Art-In-Action Camp Coming to Woodward, PA
Sammy Hagar Share Video From Best Of All Worlds Van Halen Tribute Tour
Queens Of The Stone Age Cancel More Shows Following Josh Homme's Emergency Surgery
Axl Rose Helps Billy Joel Close Out His Madison Square Garden Residency
Ghost Deliver 'Rite Here Rite Now' Soundtrack
The Offspring 'Make It All Right' With New Animated Video
Fit For A King Recruit The Plot In You's Tewers For 'TECHNIUM' Video
Middle Child Syndrome Says 'Listen To Me' With Debut Album
Singled Out: The Sweet's Little Miracle