Isn’t it sad when old has-beens turn to cheap publicity stunts to get their names back in the headlines? Guest speaker at this year’s BigSound conference in Brisbane, Creation Records founder Alan McGee has caused a worldwide controversy after revealing during his speech that he thought that the London riots fire that destroyed the Sony DADC warehouse last month “was funny”.
“I read that the Sony PIAS Building burnt down. I’m probably the only person who thought that was funny.” He said. “I call that a result. Got rid of all the shit music. And you get paid for it, the stuff you couldn’t sell.”
He continued his diatribe stating that he believed the fire was “a result” and it had destroyed “lots of shit music” adding “I don’t really like music. With music it’s never enough for anybody, everyone wants to be Jagger or McCartney. As you grow older, it’s bullshit, you’re not that.”
Some of the labels that were affected when the fire burnt through 20,000 square metres of storage were Domino, XL Records, WARP and Beggars Banquet. Local Aussie label Alberts is distributed by PIAS in the UK and local band Stonefield had their debut EP released through indie label Flock in the UK who used the same distributor.
Last week, UK paper The Telegraph reported that experts in the security industry reckon the fire was deliberate and the work of professionals. No word yet on the insurance outcome for most of the indie labels affected.
Whilst this publicity stunt may have fallen flat – have a look at some of the wildest stunts in music.
