Pitchfork

July 7, the release date for the new Smashing Pumpkins album Zeitgeist, is only two months away. However, after waiting seven years since the last Smashing Pumpkins release, some zealous fans just couldn't wait sixty-something more days, and took matters into their own hands.

Last week, the band's Chicago rehearsal studio was robbed; the thieves are now in jail.

The band's management released the following statement:

"Management for the Smashing Pumpkins confirms that the band's rehearsal studio in Chicago was burglarized last week.

"The two people who are now in jail illegally gained access to the band's private space and stole various items belonging to them over the course of several hours while the band had left for the evening.

"The band's management says the group feels their rights have been violated by this crime and will always pursue their rights and the law to protect their property and the safety of themselves, their families and their fans."

So, what did the burglars steal? Money? Guitars? The album's master tapes? Nope. It appears-- though it is not officially confirmed-- that the fans stole photographs somehow associated with Zeitgeist, possibly album art or video stills. The photos were then leaked to the Pumpkins fan site Netphoria. The images include:

-- Paris Hilton posing in front of a backdrop of a bomb exploding
-- The Grim Reaper standing at a podium emblazoned with the Seal of the President of the United States, in front of a black and white Smashing Pumpkins flag
-- A person in a business suit wearing a devil mask and being crucified
-- Five blonde children saluting
-- Close-up of Billy Corgan in a hoodie
-- Billy Corgan in a hoodie, standing next to a woman with no shirt on

The Smashing Pumpkins' management's statement on the photographs was simply, "the photos are stolen goods and anyone who posts them will have to take them down."

Netphoria took down the photos and posted a statement, saying, "What this person did amounts to theft and band takes this very seriously as does Netphoria. I know everyone here is hungry for more information on the new album but this is not the way to go about it. Nobody here should condone or be supportive of the actions this individual took...The band requested the stolen pictures be removed and I believe they are well within their right to do so..."

Thanks to reader Byron Barnes for alerting us to the situation and for directing us to Netphoria.

The Smashing Pumpkins' summer tour of mostly gargantuan festivals begins May 22 in Paris.

Smashing Pumpkins dates:

05-22 Paris, France - Grand Rex
05-24 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - Den Atelier
05-26 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
05-28 Landgraaf, Netherlands - Megaland (Pinkpop Festival)
05-31 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound Festival
06-02 Nürburgring, Germany - Nürburgring Race Track (Rock am Ring)
06-03 Nuremburg, Germany - Zeppelinfeld (Rock im Park)
06-06 Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
06-09 Lisbon, Portugal - Lisbon Festival
06-12 Madrid, Spain - Pepe World Festival
06-15 Nickelsdorf, Austria - Nova Rock Festival
06-16 Venice, Italy - Heineken Jammin' Festival
06-17 Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival
07-07 East Rutherford, NJ - Giants Stadium (Live Earth Festival)
08-05 Baltimore, MD - Pimlico Park (Virgin Festival)
08-24 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
08-26 Reading, England - Reading Festival
09-01 Istanbul, Turkey - Rock n Coke Festival
09-08 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Festival
09-09 Toronto, Ontario - Virgin Festival