Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has revealed that the band’s former record label Virgin had no right to use their name for promotional purposes.

Corgan said that Virgin Records, which was the band’s home until they split in 2000, had crossed the “Rubicon”.

The band launched legal action against the record label earlier this week, claiming that the use of their name in campaigns for Pepsi and Amazon had damaged their "artistic integrity".

Speaking to Billboard, Corgan said: “You're going to see more of this playing fast and loose with the rules, hoping they don't get caught.

“At face value, it's not a huge deal. But in terms of precedent, it is, because there will be much more of this coming."

Corgan, who is currently touring in Australia, also revealed that the band had been at loggerheads with their former record label over their back-catalogue.

Under the terms of their contract, Smashing Pumpkins and Virgin are equal partners to the catalogue, something which Corgan says he has tried to overturn.

"Look, you have no interest. Let us just buy it. But they won't put a number on it,” he said. “They've atrophied the catalogue down so low that they probably hope we'll crawl back and ask for cash."

Corgan suggested that in a bid to undermine the label, the band may release previously unheard tracks and exclusive live recordings.

(by Jason Gregory)