FROM BBC Website

Jon McClure, frontman with indie group Reverend and the Makers, has said he will quit music after their next album.

"I don't want anything to do with this industry, it absolutely stinks," he told BBC 6 Music.

McClure said he would "retire and become a pedal taxi driver" after the group's second album, The French Kiss in the Chaos, comes out next year.

Reverend and the Makers reached the UK top five with their debut album The State of Things last year.

Their single Heavyweight Champion of the World reached the top 10, and they have been a popular draw on the festival circuit this summer.

I feel like a sore thumb in a piranha pool in this industry

Jon McClure

But McClure, who started out in a band with Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner, said he had sacked his management and would retire from music in January.

"I'm gonna go out having told the truth and with my head held high and having stood for something," he told 6 Music's The Music Week.

"I feel like a sore thumb in a piranha pool in this industry. I don't like the way it's all run by rich men in their 50s who went to private school. It's not something I want to be part of."

In a dig at other indie groups, the outspoken singer continued: "You get these bands who have a few hits, say like the Pigeon Detectives, who come out with another album trying to do the same thing again.

"I'm going to make a record that's truly artistic, which is the Reverend and the Makers album, that's artistically interesting, then I'm going to retire and become a pedal taxi driver."

'Too cynical'

McClure is also part of another group, Mongrel, alongside former Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson and Babyshambles guitarist Drew McConnell.

But he said he was sick of the cynicism in the music industry.

"It's all done for profit and not for any degree of musical feeling or sentiment.

"And the press distort things to such a degree that you've not got a hope of knowing what the truth is so it's not something that I want to participate in or fuel anymore.

"It makes me tired and it makes me feel ill and I don't want anything more to do with it."

"I don't like the way it's all run by rich men in their 50s who went to private school. It's not something I want to be part of."

"It's all done for profit and not for any degree of musical feeling or sentiment."



Well there's a revelation. I bet no one knew that!

Honestly though, why doesn't he just go independent? He's made a few quid, why not put it into proper music?

Plenty of others have.

Well there's a revelation. I bet no one knew that!

Honestly though, why doesn't he just go independent? He's made a few quid, why not put it into proper music?

Plenty of others have.

I'd just grow up and be grateful that I had fans and was able to leave my call centre job and work full time in a band! :hihi: :rolleyes:

After seeing them open The Carling Academy, I thought "good gig, but he's a complete ****"
Never really thought it before that gig.

He's not wrong.

'The music business is a cruel and shallow trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men lie like dogs. There is also a negative side.'

Hunter S. Thompson.

If he'd done the right thing and spent time reading the Good Lord Thompson's work he wouldn't be in this pickle.

If he'd done the right thing and spent time reading the Good Lord Thompson's work he wouldn't be in this pickle.

Absolutely; Phil "The Nose" Thompson may have been a mere Liverpool centre half in the 1980s but his music business advisory service has really come up with some useful tips since then.

Reading into it - it sounds like everyone from his management to his record company have perhaps told him the new album is ****.

I've never understood why people who form a band because they claim to love music sign up to a major record label whose whole point is to make as much money as possible.
If you're not bothered about the "business" part of the music business, sell your music directly to your fans online, play gigs for free and don't constantly try and get your picture on the TV and in the papers.

Always thought they were a third-rate bandwagon-jumping Arctic Monkeys rip-off anyway - not really much of a loss.

Absolutely; Phil "The Nose" Thompson may have been a mere Liverpool centre half in the 1980s but his music business advisory service has really come up with some useful tips since then.

Certainly. His immaculately turned-out appearances on Gilette Super Soccer Saturday with Jeff Stelling must also count for something.

Always thought they were a third-rate bandwagon-jumping Arctic Monkeys rip-off anyway - not really much of a loss.

I always thought their music sounded like a collection of Ian Brown b-sides.

What a waste of a good band. Jon McClure is absolutely right though, because the music industry is no longer about quality music anymore, but more about filling people's pockets at the top. There is an awful lot of good bands that don't get anywhere because they don't follow a formula.

What a waste of a good band. Jon McClure is absolutely right though, because the music industry is no longer about quality music anymore, but more about filling people's pockets at the top. There is an awful lot of good bands that don't get anywhere because they don't follow a formula.

The industry that he's talking about has ALWAYS been about lining pockets.

What a waste of a good band. Jon McClure is absolutely right though, because the music industry is no longer about quality music anymore, but more about filling people's pockets at the top. There is an awful lot of good bands that don't get anywhere because they don't follow a formula.

I agree with you, it is a great shame. Although maybe it means he's intending to spend more time developing Mongrel? Who knows. I hope Mongrel's still going to carry on, I love what I've heard of them so far.

But regarding the music business - it's always been that way, and probably always will be.

It's never been about quality music or any sort of music at all, it's always been about profit, and draining every last drop there is to be had out of 'fads'. The quality bands who are successful, make it DESPITE the music industry and its ways, not because of it.

StarSparkle

PS Listen to the lyrics of the Sex Pistols "EMI" or The Clash's "Complete Control" if you want to get a feel for the music industry of the mid to late 70s. Nothing changes.

PS Listen to the lyrics of the Sex Pistols "EMI" or The Clash's "Complete Control" if you want to get a feel for the music industry of the mid to late 70s. Nothing changes.

Or Conflict's album 'Only Stupid ******** Help EMI'.

Or Conflict's album 'Only Stupid ******** Help EMI'.

What record label was that released on?

StarSparkle

PS Listen to the lyrics of the Sex Pistols "EMI" or The Clash's "Complete Control" if you want to get a feel for the music industry of the mid to late 70s. Nothing changes.

or all of the Wish You Were Here album by Pink Floyd.

I'm not sure what he expected really? It just seems like a publicity seeking thing to do, but then that will make more money - oh wait, it makes him money too...

I liked the album, but the more I hear from him the less impressed with him I am.

The industry since it began has always weighted its contracts to favour the company itself. Major and indie labels have the same agenda......to make money. There may have been, at one time, some kind of non-profit, hippy-type organisation dedicated to providing music for free, but i doubt it. I'm willing to be proved wrong though.

What a waste of a good band. Jon McClure is absolutely right though, because the music industry is no longer about quality music anymore, but more about filling people's pockets at the top. There is an awful lot of good bands that don't get anywhere because they don't follow a formula.

I don't think Jon McClure is absolutely right. Yeah he is lining rich people's pockets and is part of the record industry. But he gets to tour the world, spend all his time making music, meets loads of interesting people, plays his songs to huge audiences and hears his music on the radio.

He's contradicting himself saying he doesn't want to fuel the press and coming out with all that....

FROM BBC Website
"I don't want anything to do with this industry, it absolutely stinks," he told BBC 6 Music.

McClure said he would "retire and become a pedal taxi driver" after the group's second album, The French Kiss in the Chaos, comes out next year.

He wants so little to do with it, he's going to stay in the industry until the new album comes out? Why not leave now?

I attach as much credence to the statement "I don't want anything to do with this industry" as I do to his plans to "retire and become a pedal taxi driver"

I don't think Jon McClure is absolutely right. Yeah he is lining rich people's pockets and is part of the record industry. But he gets to tour the world, spend all his time making music, meets loads of interesting people, plays his songs to huge audiences and hears his music on the radio.

He's contradicting himself saying he doesn't want to fuel the press and coming out with all that....

I agree. There's more to it than money. The lifestyle is not to be sniffed at. (Unless you get homesick). I did this for about 5 years and is my bank account overflowing? Course not, but the memories.......ahh, the memories. Or lack of them.......:)

He wants so little to do with it, he's going to stay in the industry until the new album comes out? Why not leave now?

I attach as much credence to the statement "I don't want anything to do with this industry" as I do to his plans to "retire and become a pedal taxi driver"

All a publicity stunt probably. He'll be having an argument with Noel Gallagher next.

What record label was that released on?

It wasn't. It was the first record to be released by apes with no organisational skills or outside help. Marvellous.

To be fair, if anyone saw the repeat of the TV highlights of the V Festival thing the other night, Reverend & The Makers did band did provide us fans of irony with a wonderful moment.
The sight of a generic indie rock band and a crowd of identically dressed fans singing "Be like everybody else" and trying to make it sound sarcastic was so ironic Alanis Morisette showed up shortly afterwards!

... I actually believed that the Reverend had quit music - And my heart leapt...

Then I realised that perhaps isn't the case.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/aug/20/reverend.and.the.makers.frontman.quits.in.frustrat ion

I'd really, really like him to just stop.

message deleted

FROM BBC Website

Jon McClure, frontman with indie group Reverend and the Makers, has said he will quit music after their next album.

"I don't want anything to do with this industry, it absolutely stinks," he told BBC 6 Music.

McClure said he would "retire and become a pedal taxi driver" after the group's second album, The French Kiss in the Chaos, comes out next year.

Reverend and the Makers reached the UK top five with their debut album The State of Things last year.

Their single Heavyweight Champion of the World reached the top 10, and they have been a popular draw on the festival circuit this summer.

I feel like a sore thumb in a piranha pool in this industry

Jon McClure

But McClure, who started out in a band with Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner, said he had sacked his management and would retire from music in January.

"I'm gonna go out having told the truth and with my head held high and having stood for something," he told 6 Music's The Music Week.

"I feel like a sore thumb in a piranha pool in this industry. I don't like the way it's all run by rich men in their 50s who went to private school. It's not something I want to be part of."

In a dig at other indie groups, the outspoken singer continued: "You get these bands who have a few hits, say like the Pigeon Detectives, who come out with another album trying to do the same thing again.

"I'm going to make a record that's truly artistic, which is the Reverend and the Makers album, that's artistically interesting, then I'm going to retire and become a pedal taxi driver."

'Too cynical'

McClure is also part of another group, Mongrel, alongside former Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson and Babyshambles guitarist Drew McConnell.

But he said he was sick of the cynicism in the music industry.

"It's all done for profit and not for any degree of musical feeling or sentiment.

"And the press distort things to such a degree that you've not got a hope of knowing what the truth is so it's not something that I want to participate in or fuel anymore.

"It makes me tired and it makes me feel ill and I don't want anything more to do with it."

finally, someone with brains and balls :clap:

He's just tryin to promote his next album me thinks. If not, he'd just quit now.

I like what i've heard of Mongrel so far, although they sound good DESPITE that bloke...:)

He's just tryin to promote his next album me thinks. If not, he'd just quit now.

Maybe he's got a contract to keep and has to do a second album?

He's just tryin to promote his next album me thinks. If not, he'd just quit now.

Yep

"I really hate the music business but just let me release my 2nd album then I will be off."

Ashame really I didnt mind some of his music but I wont be losing sleep over his decision.

FROM BBC Website

Doug McClure, frontman with indie group Reverend and the Makers, has said he will quit music after their next album.

"I don't want anything to do with this industry, it absolutely stinks," he told BBC 6 Music.

McClure said he would "retire and become a pedal taxi driver" after the group's second album, The French Kiss in the Chaos, comes out next year.

Reverend and the Makers reached the UK top five with their debut album The State of Things last year.

Their single Heavyweight Champion of the World reached the top 10, and they have been a popular draw on the festival circuit this summer.

I feel like a sore thumb in a piranha pool in this industry

Doug McClure

But McClure, who started out in a band with Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner, said he had sacked his management and would retire from music in January.

"I'm gonna go out having told the truth and with my head held high and having stood for something," he told 6 Music's The Music Week.

"I feel like a sore thumb in a piranha pool in this industry. I don't like the way it's all run by rich men in their 50s who went to private school. It's not something I want to be part of."

In a dig at other indie groups, the outspoken singer continued: "You get these bands who have a few hits, say like the Pigeon Detectives, who come out with another album trying to do the same thing again.

"I'm going to make a record that's truly artistic, which is the Reverend and the Makers album, that's artistically interesting, then I'm going to retire and become a pedal taxi driver."

'Too cynical'

McClure is also part of another group, Mongrel, alongside former Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson and Babyshambles guitarist Drew McConnell.

But he said he was sick of the cynicism in the music industry.

"It's all done for profit and not for any degree of musical feeling or sentiment.

"And the press distort things to such a degree that you've not got a hope of knowing what the truth is so it's not something that I want to participate in or fuel anymore.

"It makes me tired and it makes me feel ill and I don't want anything more to do with it."

Nearly a year since the aanouncement and now the new Reverand and the Makers album is out. I wonder if Doug Mclure will keep his promise, do all music lovers a favour and quit making records?
Perhaps he'll go into politics after his recent rant about how all northerners are thick and vote BNP?

If he bales out of "The Music Industry", will he be giving back the money?

If he bales out of "The Music Industry", will he be giving back the money?

The money that he has earned for his work?

The money that he has earned for his work?

I'm guessing he's obtained a reasonable standard of living for doing what he does...off the back of an industry he thinks has sold out, corrupt, or whatever.

Presumably his wages count as part of the equation? So to maintain his principles, perhaps he could take a nominal wage for the work he's done, and plough the rest into setting up a charitable recording trust or whatever?

To be honest, I don't really know them, and I'm not that bothered what happens to the band, it's just a bit of a problem with hippocrites that I have. I don't want to argue with anyone, it's just that it irritates me when the industry is moaned about by someone who's done quite well out of it, who then leaves it driving off down the road in a figurative Bentley...My opinion, I certainly don't expect everyone to share it. :)

Its unlikely that he is making more than a 'nominal wage' anyway - the first album only peaked at number 5, so certainly not something that sold millions - probably not even 100,000. He'll make some money from gigs, but those only take place a few times a year, and even then the money has to be split between the rest of the band. I'd be surprised if he's making any more than he needs just to keep going.

He'll be a great lost to music industry! I'm sure they'll be quaking in their boots at losing this one hit wonder! He's an ego far bigger than his talent and seems to be using his connection with Alex Turner to get any recognition.