Photo: Press
With the BRIT Awards just over one week away, the debate around class and rock in mainstream music has begun again - and The Cribs' Ryan Jarman believes there's now less opportunity for young working class bands to make it.
The state of rock n' roll hit headlines once again when Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno said that he thought the lack of rock nominations at the BRIT Awards was a 'conspiracy' - against his and other working class bands.
Speaking to Gigwise, The Cribs' singer and guitarist said while the BRITs meant nothing to him, they certainly reflected what he sees as the industry's control over mainstream tastes.
"I feel like at the minute, people see it as everything being pop and dance music at the moment, so there is definitely something," Jarman told Gigwise, in part one of our interview. "I wouldn't call it a conspiracy but we are told 'this is popular' and that's what you need to be part of to be down with the kids. That's the most important thing to the grown ups, that's the No.1 goal.
"That's the reason why you might feel like that about the BRIT Awards, not that anyone should really care. If you live and die by the awards that you get, then I'm glad we're not concerned with that side of things...we enjoy our flirtations with the mainstream because we think it's perverse"
Thinking on whether or not there was a class division in music, Jarman said: "I'm not that sure what's going on as far as guitar bands are concerned, but Serge was talking about 'working class' rock n' roll bands and there's definitely a point where there's a lack of that anyway.
"I remember when we were kids, you'd be working a really crappy job and you'd go and rehearse all night because being in a band and getting a record deal was this dream to take you away from that crappy job - it was seen as your way out. Whereas now the industry has collapsed to such a degree that no one has that aspiration, you don't have that way out any more. The vast majority of musicians in general seem to be people who can afford to be in a band. They have to be supported somewhere, because it almost became a vanity project for people that could afford to do it."
He added: "I don't know if that's conducive to exciting music - I always thought that one of the good things about that whole attitude of working bad jobs was that there was an element of desperation to music where people want to get out. That's why bands tend to get crap when they get famous, they were making these watered down records about being famous and people weren't interested in that any more."
- Check back soon for more of our interview with The Cribs
Watch The Cribs' video for 'Burning For No One' below
The Cribs release their sixth album, For All Our Sisters on 23 March. Their remaining UK tour dates are below. For tickets and more information, visit here.
FEBRUARY
17 - Birmingham Oobleck
20 - Glasgow King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
21 - Newcastle * 6Music Festival
22 - Sheffield Leadmill
25 - Manchester The Ritz
