Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan engaged in a series of interviews at SXSW and made some harsh statements about the music industry and the state of alternative and indie rock.

Last week, it was announced that Smashing Pumpkin and alt-rock elder statesman Billy Corgan would unveil details on the upcoming release of his band’s new album ‘Oceania’ at a SXSW appearance. In his one-on-one interview with Brian Solis yesterday (March 13), Corgan seemed more preoccupied with ripping apart the current state of affairs in the music world.

Rolling Stone reports that Corgan elaborated on how difficult the current methods of music consumption have made it for young talent — claiming that new bands virtually have to set themselves on fire to get noticed on YouTube. The oft-outspoken Corgan falso stated that recent generations “have grown up thinking that being famous is the goal, not to be respected – not to be dangerous.”

“I was part of a generation that changed the world,” Corgan said later in the interview. “And it was taken over by posers.” That sentiment was taken even further in a separate interview Corgan took part in, as he diagnosed an overall lack of quality in the music industry and, more specifically, the world of alternative and indie rock.

The Smashing Pumpkin-in-command also alleged that bands like Arcade Fire will never be able to make the leap out of the underground because the “indie world” won’t allow the transition. “What are they gonna do…start making Nickelback singles? They can’t,” Corgan predicted before warning that once the “audience turns on them, and they will — ’cause they always do — those artists are gonna go back to working in coffee shops…and that’s a shame.”

Billy Corgan announced yesterday via Twitter that The Smashing Pumpkins’ new album ‘Oceania’ will be released in early June.

Billy Corgan Talks About the Music Industry at SXSW

More From KKTX FM