Jon McClure
Jon McClure, frontman of the rock band Reverend & The Makers, has offered his thoughts on the ongoing debate over music downloads. Never one to keep his opinions to himself, McClure has slammed the views of various musicians, most notably Lily Allen, who believe illegal downloading is having a damaging effect on the music industry. After Lily Allen started a blog and wrote to musicians giving her opinion on the debate, McClure has said he believes there are far more important issues that the musicians should be concentrating on. “If they really want to save the world, or whatever, there are issues that are far more important,” he said. “It’s a crying shame that it’s only kids stealing music on the Internet that kind of brings these people out.”
“The bankers are taking the Michael, the MPs are taking the Mick, Afghanistan, Iraq, melting of the Earth, you know what I’m saying. It’s a sad state of affairs if that’s the only thing that gets them excited, if you ask me. Rock and roll is about rebellion innit, so how can you start acting like the people that sit at home and say ‘Don’t do that kids’.”
He went on to condemn what he perceives as hypocritical actions from the likes of Lily Allen: “It’s complete and utter bullshit because I don’t see how millionaire rock stars are in any position to be lecturing kids on stealing their music. I think downloading music is a fact of life, and I think the people that are supporting this, like Take That and Lily Allen, that take the money from the kids when they’re playing in stadiums, it’s just an insult really.”
Reverend & The Makers released ‘No Soap (In a Dirty War)‘ this month, the second single from their new album ‘A French Kiss In The Chaos’.