Noel Gallagher has lashed out at "middle class bands" following his experience as Teenage Cancer Trust curator last summer.
Class is a peculiarly British issue. Our Stateside cousins don't seem to mind what a musician's background is, whereas we quite enjoying finding out what, say, Damon Albarn's father did for a living.
So Noel Gallagher's latest remarks shouldn't come as too big a surprise. The guitarist curated the Teenage Cancer Trust shows last year, and told Shortlist that "middle class bands" proved to be less forthcoming than their working class counterparts.
"I'd talk to Ed Sheeran and Mumford And Sons thinking, 'I'll just do the fucking seven nights myself, what the fuck am I asking these people for?' and I got turned down a lot. Everybody says yes to your face. Everybody. And then the agent will call, and their management will call and then their PR will call and say, 'Ah, they're going to be in Australia at the time.' Really? Well they never said that to me" he said.
"What's interesting is all the working class bands said yes straight off the bat, no fucking inkling of when it was. The middle class bands said yes and wriggled out of it. I dunno what that means, but it must mean something. It was an interesting summer. But I will say, if the people that blew me off but said they'll do it next year actually do it, it might be the greatest event since Woodstock."
Amongst the artists who turned Noel Gallagher down are Metallica and Jake Bugg – neither of whom are renowned for their middle class upbringing or following.
Returning this summer, the Teenage Cancer Trust's regular shows in the Royal Albert Hall could be accompanied by smaller preview dates. "There's a whole raft of new bands like Temples and Tame Impala who won't be able to sell out the Royal Albert Hall. So what we're going to try, in the week leading up to the Albert Hall gigs, is take over a smaller venue, such as the 100 Club and let young bands do a week. Because I think if we bring it to a younger audience, it will be better for the charity in the long run."
This year's run of Teenage Cancer Trust shows kick off on March 19th.
