I thank the leaker of the songs in Feb 2006, as I do believe that if those songs had not been leaked, the band would never have started to perform those tracks live and we would have never heard their live takes on
There Was a Time,
IRS and
Better in 2006.
Catcher in the Rye was an excellent song, and was supposed to be sung live in London with Brian May (except he couldnt get himself sorted with equitment) so as of yet we havent heard it. However, I believe that this song was not supposed to be leaked personally and certain people got very upset over that.
As for the studio version of
Madagascar, it is the best quality song we have so far, and it fully represents the band attempting to create something monumental. Without those leaks, I would have fucked off, and I wouldnt have come back. I'm very pissed at how things are now, but at least I take refuge in knowing those leaks have helped us sample some of the flavour of the new album. And Ill still happily buy the new album when its released this year, and I am confident it will be.
As for songs such as
Silkworms and
Rhiad and the Bedouins, the live 'experiments' we have of these songs show progression, they show a band refusing to be railroaded into making the same kind of music all the time. Maybe theyre dead and buried, maybe we'll get them as bonus tracks on a single, only time will tell.
If
Prostitute turns out to be real, it also shows another significant step with the band, and is again another great track as along with
The Blues shows the band still retain their Queen influences and sound all the better for it.
I remember the day I first heard I.R.S. had been leaked at Chinese Democracy, I was so happy, and was so content in hearing that material for that first time. I'm still as eager to get that album now as I was then, and even more so, as the leaks have bettered by appetite....for destruction