Okay, if you cannot tell what I am talking about from the title, “Death Magnetic” is the name of the upcoming Metallica album, slated to be released Friday. But, as many albums have been (see below), the entire album was leaked on the Internet by pirates. How did it happen? It seems that a French record store started selling the albums early and before they realized their mistake, the damage had been done.
(Photo Source Mishka Gaikin, listed as public domain on Wikimedia Commons)
Metallica realizes that in this day and age, leaks are going to happen. Drummer Lars Ulrich said that by today’s standards, being released a few weeks early is a “victory.” Metallica has a long history of fighting against music piracy. They waged a legal battle against Napster in 2000 when a demo of their album “I Disappear” was found on the site without their authorization. The suit was eventually settled and Napster decided to go legit in selling legal copies of songs and albums.
At least Metallica knows the fans were chomping at the bits to get their new music. Here are some other albums that were leaked before their official release dates:
Bob Dylan and the Band’s “The Basement Tapes”
Think the only music leaked before a release date was after the Internet was invented? Think again! “The Basement Tapes” were made in 1967 while Dylan was recovering from a traumatic motorcycle accident. A few months after the recordings, illegal acetate recordings began appearing. In 1975, a double album was officially released of the material.
The Beach Boys’ “Smile”
Another late Sixties album that was illegally leaked well before the completed album was finished in 2006, although some songs, such as “Good Vibrations” were legally released well before completion.
Prince’s “The Black Album”
“The Black Album” was Prince’s follow-up to “Sign O’ the Times,” but just before it was due in stores, Prince shelved it. He instead released “Lovesexy.” Despite the original pressings being destroyed, bootleg versions were out there before Prince decided to officially release it in 1994.