The Enemy have sparked debate about Radio 1's playlist after being interviewed by The Mirror. Read the full interview below and watch the video below:
The Mirror chatted to the band as part of the celebrations for Guinness's 250th birthday in Dublin.
The Enemy have launched an astonishing attack on BBC Radio 1, saying it has given up on trying to break new guitar bands.
The Coventry band, who won Best New Band at last year's NME Awards, say that believe the playlist is largely ignoring upcoming acts of a more indie or alternative bent.
Frontman Tom Clarke told us: "I think 2009 has been an awful year for music because in England, Radio 1 for some reason have stopped playing anything with a guitar in it.what’s happened, their balls seem to have retracted into their lower abdomen, and they’re playing what can only be described as shi*te. But there’s always Kerrang! and XFM isn’t there?"
Radio 1 has recently rejigged its playlist criteria and schedule in a bid to attract younger listeners.
The move comes after commercial radio executives called for an overhaul of the station, arguing that it had breached its remit by having an average listener age of 33.
In a report made to the BBC Trust, the commercial radio sector's trade body, the RadioCentre, said the station was eating into their audience instead of targeting the 15- to 29-year-old target age range.
The overhaul started last month.
But Tom stormed: "In trying to alienate all the older listeners in playing sh*t, then yes, they’re going about in completely the right way. They’re just presuming that younger listeners want to listen to sh*t. I don’t understand it. I do think that it’s diabolical at the moment. I can’t listen to it.
"It’s a really hard time for new bands. We’re alright ‘cos we’ve been going for years, so it doesn’t affect you that much, you’re just not on Radio1, but for new bands coming through it must make it absolutely impossible.
"It’s such a shame. It’s so hard for a band to break through anyway and with radio not helping, you know, there’s great bands out there with real talent going completely unnoticed because someone at Radio 1 has decided that he doesn’t like guitars. For god’s sake people get a grip, and get good guitars bands back on the radio."
The band, who's new single Be Somebody has just been released, said they also agreed with Lily Allen's views on filesharing.
Tom said: “I think Lily Allen has a fair point. When big artists moans about it (filesharing), it’s a bit annoying as they don’t really need the money. What, does Bono need a new yacht or something? It affects bands at a grass root level who’re just starting and where every CD sale and every T-shirt sale is whether they can put the fuel in the transit van to get to the next gig. That’s important and on that level it can ruin bands and it destroys new music so it’s a pretty dangerous thing."
He continued: "People do get to hear music that they maybe they wouldn’t have heard and perhaps they’ll go out and buy it, but I think that’s wishful thinking though, I think they’ll just listen to the illegally downloaded stuff.
"It’s bizarre that people think it’s acceptable to steal music, ‘cos that’s what you’re doing, you wouldn’t think it’s acceptable to fill your car up and drive off."
The band spent the summer supporting Oasis on their stadium tour but Tom said they had no idea the Gallagher brothers were seriously on the verge of splitting.
Tom shrugged: “It’s a shame and I’m absolutely gutted. But hopefully….you never know what will happen in the future. Touch wood Their mum will sort it out, yeah, Peggy will get on it, bang their heads together. I’d love to see them get back together, but I’d also like to see a solo album from Noel. I really think he’s got an absolute quality album in him.”
*Story:
The Mirror
* OFFICIAL Enemy website: http://theenemy.com
