Babyshambles
Babyshambles have said they may delay the release of their new album because they feel the general public have become bored of indie music. Drummer Adam Ficek said: “The ‘Shambles won’t release until late next year, when the scene is more fruitful. At the moment there are many guitar bands struggling. People have got bored because there’s a generic sound. There was a lot of money going into indie music so more mediocre bands have managed to sustain a career out of it.”
His comments echo the thoughts recently expressed by ex-Stone Roses man Mani, and Ficek also said he believes a lack of genuine stars in today’s bands are starting to turn people off the genre: “The kids don’t want to be like Arctic Monkeys because they’re not characters like Liam Gallagher and Damon Albarn.”
“A band similar to The Stone Roses or Oasis will emerge in the next three of four years. Someone young with something to say, as no bands have anything to say right now. We haven’t had a working-class band for ages.”
Babyshambles Secret Show Part 3
Renewed interest in indie bands began at the start of the decade after dance music dominated the charts in the late 90s, with acts such as Ficek’s band-mate Peter Doherty’s first band The Libertines and US band The Strokes finding mainstream success. Interest peaked around 2006 with the release of the Arctic Monkeys’ debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’, when the album became the fastest selling debut in UK history. With the trend shifting from physical singles to downloads seen as a factor behind falling sales, indie bands have struggled to make the same impact on the singles charts as they did a few years ago, while larger, more established rock n roll bands such as U2 and Oasis have also struggled to shift significant numbers of albums. However, the downturn in album sales is reflected across the musical landscape and indie and rock n roll bands continue to go from strength to strength on the live circuit, with the aforementioned U2 and Oasis both embarking on huge UK stadium tours this summer.
Adam Ficek’s Roses Kings Castles EP – ‘Apples & Engines‘ – is out now, and fellow Babyshambles member Peter Doherty headlines the Virgin Media Union Stage at this weekend’s V Festival.
