McGhee: Take That should be shot
In a wide ranging interview sure to send shockwaves through the music industry Scots music mogul Alan McGee has called for the Brits to be scrapped, claims Take That ‘should be shot’ and says bus pass rockers like Paul McCartney should take the hint and retire.
Talent spotter McGee, who discovered Oasis, Primal Scream and Glasvegas was in no mood to pull his punches as he delivered his damning verdict on the British music industry as he spoke exclusively to the Daily Record.
His outburst follows Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien’s claim that the money driven British music biz now lacks fun and creativity.
Offering up his thoughts on the Brit Awards, McGee called them nothing more than ‘a marketing exercise’ where execs vote for their own acts out of self interest and called for them to be scrapped.
Looking over this year’s nominations the outspoken Scot said:”They should get rid of the Brits and start again with 20 music journalists who actually care about music.
“If this is what the British music industry has to offer, we should close down the recording studios now because it is so sad. It has never been worse apart from the 1950s but at least then they had Elvis.”
McGee was particularly vitriolic over some of the acts nominated, including Chris Martin’s megaselling Coldplay, whose album A Rush Of Blood To the Head is up for best album of the last 30 years.
Dismissing the group, McGee said: “Coldplay area dilution of a dilution of a dilution. Chris Martin makes me want to eat someone else’s earwax rather than listen to his record.”
Coldplay weren’t the only act to get it in the neck however. Paul McCartney he said, should retire.
“John Lennon is probably firing bullets from another dimension as we speak. Just give in Paul. Can’t he and people like him retire.
“Music should be like football. Once you turn 40 you should become a manager or get lost.”
Take That, who are up for Best Brits Performance of the past 30 years for their 1994 Beatles medley didn’t fare much better. “Take That should be shot for even trying a Beatles medley, “ he hissed.
Some acts did manage to escape the former Creation Records chief’s ire however.
”I really like what Calvin Harris does,” he admitted. “Calvin is cool and I love Muse.. I think Robbie Williams latest stuff is quality pop music, though it is not my thing. He makes good pop.”
He went on: “Lily Allen is a good pop star. But Pixie Lott, I mean, for God’s sake. Mika should have been shot at birth, and while we’re at it, we should shoot JLS.”
McGee also backed Jay Z to win Best International Male but questioned Beyone’s omission from the nominations.
“I don’t think the Brits is quite as bad as I thought simply because Jay Z is down for international artist.
Then again we don’t have Beyonce in there. Beyonce is the the best female artist in the world by a mile. If she’s not there it should be Rihanna. I don’t get Lady GaGa.”
Surprisingly while McGee admitted the charts were full of X factor acts he didn’t slam the show, and also claimed he had no grudge to bear against the success of Susan Boyle
“I’m neither for or against her,” he said. “I’ve never watched Britain’s Got Talent or X Factor.
It’s great that X Factor gets kids into music.”
As for the future of the British music scene McGee offered a downbeat assessment.
“ I just hope there is another music revolution around the corner,” he sighed. “But it has probably gone too far for that.”
