Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Billy Corgan (instagram.com/billycorgan) discusses his unconventional record collecting philosophy while revealing the complex saga behind the Machina albums, the 25 legendary vinyl copies, the upcoming Machines of God boxset, Mellon Collie vinyl releases and more.


Topics Include:


• Billy working on book for 10 years, restarted multiple times

• Billy buys lots of records but isn't fussy collector

• Prioritizes clean vinyl condition over perfect covers or variants

• Worked at record store in 80s, understands collector mindset

• Collects obscure major label releases from 60s and 70s

• Searches for forgotten bands with no online information trace

• Loves jazz on 10-inch records from late 50s/early 60s

• Record collection has no organization, total mess at home

• Bought thousand records on last tour, resells some

• Machina originally sprawling concept record about band breaking up

• Virgin Records treated band poorly despite massive previous sales

• Never finished complete Machina vision during original 2000 sessions

• Released truncated 15-song Machina I album through Virgin/EMI

• Band toured 11 months knowing they'd break up afterward

• Three weeks before breakup, Billy rushed to finish leftover recordings

• Record company rejected finished Machina II

• Billy dumped complete Machina II free on internet in 2000

• First major band to release album free online, predating Radiohead

• Machina II became viral sensation, fans loved the record

• Produced only 25 hand-cut vinyl copies of Machina II

• Each copy uniquely wrapped in printed tape, all different

• Sent copies to Robert Smith, fans; now worth thousands

• Years of legal battles with Universal over complete release

• Initial "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" vinyl release

• Alterations for Mellon Collie running order

• New Machina box set finally coming through Madame ZuZu's (madamezuzus.com/)

• Box contains 80 songs: complete vision plus extra tracks

• Universal separately reissuing original Machina I album remastered

• ZWAN vinyl reissue underway

• Archive contains over 60,000 pieces of physical media

• Hundreds of live concert recordings from 90s tours available

• Billy passionate about rewarding dedicated fans who dig crates


Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500 (thevinylguide.com/500)


High resolution version of this podcast is available at: Patreon.com/VinylGuide (patreon.com/VinylGuide)


Listen on Apple: apple.co/2Y6ORU0 (apple.co/2Y6ORU0) Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi/36qhlc8