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Alan McGee
Background information
Born	September 29, 1960 (1960-09-29) (age 47)
Origin	Glasgow, Scotland
Genre(s)	Alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1983–1991 as musician 1984–present as record label boss
Label(s)	Creation, Poptones
Associated acts	Biff Bang Pow!
Website	www.poptones.co.uk and www.medicatedandsedated.com

Alan McGee (born 29 September 1960) is a British music industry mogul and musician famed for founding the independent Creation Records label which ran from 1983 to 2000. is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alternative music redirects here. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition (chords) or melody to songs, or both. ... For the UK magazine, see Guitarist (magazine). ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... At least two different record labels called Creation Records have existed. ... Poptones was a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. ... Biff Bang Pow! were an indie pop band from London, England, active between 1983 and 1991, centring around Creation Records boss Alan McGee. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The music industry is the business of music. ... A media proprietor is a person who controls, either through personal ownership or a dominant position in a public company, a significant part of the mass media. ... For the popular-music magazine, see Musician (magazine). ... At least two different record labels called Creation Records have existed. ...

Career

Early years

Born in Glasgow on 29 September 1960, attended King's Park Secondary School during his teens and moved to London in the aftermath of the punk movement, forming the band Laughing Apple who released 3 singles in 1981/2. In 1983, McGee founded Creation Records (named after cult 1960s band The Creation) and also formed a new band, Biff Bang Pow! (named after one of The Creation's songs), which would continue until 1991. Whilst working for British Rail he began managing a band called The Jesus and Mary Chain who became an underground sensation when McGee issued their first single on his label in late 1984. is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... The Creation were an English psychedelic rock band formed in 1966 by Kenny Pickett (born Kenneth George Pickett September 3rd 1947 in Ware, Hertfordshire - died January 10th 1997) on vocals, Eddie Phillips (born Edwin Michael Phillips August 15th, 1941 in Leytonstone) on lead guitar, Mick Thompson on rhythm guitar, Jack... Biff Bang Pow! were an indie pop band from London, England, active between 1983 and 1991, centring around Creation Records boss Alan McGee. ... This article is about the defunct entity British Railways, which later traded as British Rail. The History of rail transport in Great Britain is covered in its own article. ... The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band that revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid. ...

Creation Records

Creation Records was one of the key labels in the mid-80s indie movement, with early releases featuring artists such as Primal Scream, The Jasmine Minks, and The Loft. When The Jesus And Mary Chain moved to Warner Brothers in 1985, from McGee's profits as their manager Creation was able to release seminal singles by acts including Primal Scream, Felt, and The Weather Prophets. While these records were far from chart successes, McGee’s enthusiasm and uncanny ability to woo the weekly music media ensured a healthy following, especially since he’d projected a notorious image of The Jesus And Mary Chain that often courted violence and loutish behaviour. In popular music, indie music (from independent) is any of a number of genres, scenes, subcultures and stylistic and cultural attributes, characterised by perceived independence from commercial pop music and mainstream culture and an autonomous, do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. ... For other uses, see Primal Scream (disambiguation). ... The Loft The Loft were a British indie band, whose debut single was one of the earliest releases on Creation Records. ... Warner Bros. ... For other uses, see Primal Scream (disambiguation). ... Felt were a 1980s UK indie band, led by Lawrence Hayward (known simply as Lawrence, his full name was never listed in any record credits), and included guitarist Maurice Deebank for the first half of the bands existence, keyboard player Martin Duffy who essentially replaced Deebank, and drummer Gary... The Weather Prophets were a British indie band, famed for being part of the C86 movement. ...

Following an unsuccessful attempt to run an offshoot label for Warner Brothers, McGee regrouped Creation and immersed himself in the burgeoning dance and acid house scene. The legacy of which saw him release era-defining albums from Creation mainstays Primal Scream and new arrivals like My Bloody Valentine and Teenage Fanclub. For all their artistic health however, these records were not huge commercial hits and, with McGee’s escalating drug use Creation had run up considerable debt that was only held off until he sold half the company to Sony Music in 1992. McGee calls the Sony years as the beginning of the end of the real Creation Records. One that was driven by mavericks Tim Abbott, Dick Green and McGee himself, not by Sony accountants and marketing managers. To this day he claims he hated the 90s and preferred the 80s as he hated Sony with a passion forever more. Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. ... For the 1994 novel by Irvine Welsh, see The Acid House. ... This article is about the music group. ... Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish alternative rock band from Bellshill, near Glasgow, formed in 1989. ... ...

At almost precisely the moment it looked as though Creation would collapse into receivership, the recently signed Manchester band Oasis began selling albums in huge quantities, as they epitomised the cultural Britpop movement of the mid 90s. The success of Oasis was unprecedented for an act on an independent label, and their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? soon grew into the biggest selling British album of the decade. This brought previously unimaginable exposure to McGee, whose position was noted by the revitalised Labour Party, who considered him a figurehead of youth culture and courted his influence to spearhead a media campaign prior to the 1997 General Election. McGee was largely responsible for changing government legislation in relation to musicians being able to go on the New Deal which gave musicians three years to develop and be funded by the government instead of having to take other jobs to survive. Omnibus even went on to make a documentary on McGee and Creation in 1998 for BBC One. McGee was awarded by the NME 'Godlike Genius' award in February 1995 (John Peel won it the first year in 1994) and Creation Records was awarded 'independent label of the year' every year between 1995 and 1998 by Music Week. Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991. ... Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. ... Singles from (Whats the Story) Morning Glory? Released: 24 April 1995 Released: 14 August 1995 Released: 15 September 1995 (Australia only) Released: 30 October 1995 Released: 19 February 1996 Released: 13 May 1996 (Australia and USA only) (Whats the Story) Morning Glory? is the second album by the... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election. ... Omnibus is a television series of the BBC. Categories: | ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 1. ... For other persons named John Peel, see John Peel (disambiguation). ...

As Oasis mania continued they went on to sell nearly 50 million records by 2007, Creation continued issuing acclaimed albums by other artists, none of which came anywhere near the success of the Manchester band and rumours of McGee’s dissatisfaction with what his once proud indie label had become began to circulate. In late 1999 it was announced that Creation Records would close. The final album released by the label was Primal Scream's 2000 release XTRMNTR, which went gold in the UK. The final single was the third released from the album itself. Two books were written in the wake of Creation Records selling the rest off the shares to Sony in 2000 for an overall price that was staggered through the 90s of around 30 million US dollars. Following Creation's closure, McGee developed into property - buying houses, flats, a farm in Wales and even an office block in Primrose Hill. McGee also got into buying art as a hobby because he liked the way a painting looked but, as by chance, McGee had luckily bought paintings by the next generation of upcoming painters: Keith Vaughan, Howard Hodgkin and Roger Hilton. Again as in Music in Property and Art, Mcgee had become successful by default. As a final insulting gesture to Sony Music and the Labour Government who he had now fallen out with, one of McGee's last acts as Creation Records boss was to use £20,000 of Creation's money to fund Malcolm McLaren, in what was known in the media as Malcolm for Mayor, to run for Mayor of London. Up until the point Ken Livingstone decided to stand for Mayor, McClaren had garned an estimated six per cent of the capital's vote in street polls which may potentially have given McClaren a political role in Livingstone's team to run London. This put McGee on the front page of The Sun three days in a row and upset Tony Blair and 10 Downing Street. McClaren immediately stood down when Livingstone did finally decide to stand for Mayor. McGee had by 2000 had enough of the Labour Party and declared more interest in football as he is a boyhood fan of Rangers F.C.. McGee immediately founded a new label called Poptones in homage to John Lydon and Public Image Limited. It was the end of an era for all concerned. XTRMNTR is a 2000 album by Primal Scream. ... This article is about the country. ... , Primrose Hill is a hill located on the north side of Regents Park in north London, and also the name for the surrounding district. ... Keith Vaughan (b 23 August 1912 at Selsey; d 4 November 1977 in London), was an English painter. ... Sir Gordon Howard Eliot Hodgkin (born August 6, 1932) is a British painter and printmaker. ... Roger Hilton was one of the pioneers of abstract art in post-war Britain. ... Malcolm McLaren (born Malcolm Robert Andrew Edwards, 22 January 1946, in London) is an English impresario and musician who is best known as being the manager of the punk rock band Sex Pistols. ... This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. ... Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945) is the outgoing Mayor of London, a post he has held from its creation in 2000 until 2008. ... This article is about a British tabloid. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ... For other uses, see Rangers F.C. (disambiguation). ... Poptones was a record label launched by Alan McGee after the demise of Creation Records in 1999. ... John Joseph Lydon (born 31 January 1956), also known as Johnny Rotten, is an English rock musician. ... Public Image Ltd (PiL) is a band formed in 1978 by John Lydon, formerly and later Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols. ...

Poptones Records/Alan McGee Management

With Poptones, although it was written off by Paul Lester of Uncut after eight days of opening as a label, McGee found platinum success within the second year with The Hives and currently manages under Alan McGee Management, The Charlatans, Dirty Pretty Things and Ed Larrakin's new band The Pan I Am. He also has recording studios in Glasgow and London and publishes under Creation Songs to this day Oasis, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, Eugene Kelly of The Vaselines. Poptones is now being run down as a record label by McGee after the digital age has now come to pass. Uncut special issue on Queen. ... This article is about the Swedish band. ... The Charlatans (known in the US as The Charlatans UK) are an English rock band. ... Dirty Pretty Things are an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a former member of The Libertines. ... Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991. ... For other uses, see Primal Scream (disambiguation). ... This article is about the music group. ... Eugene Kelly is a Scottish musician who was a member of the band The Vaselines and has had a number of solo releases. ... The Vaselines were a rock band from Bellshill, Scotland. ...

McGee managed The Libertines on Rough Trade up until their split in 2004 and now manages Carl Barat's new band, Dirty Pretty Things, for Vertigo after Barat and Doherty split as a working partnership. Dirty Pretty Things reached number three in the UK with their debut album Waterloo to Anywhere and which went near platinum by the end of 2006. Dirty Pretty Things will have a new album scheduled for release in 2008. The Libertines were an English rock band formed in London in 1997 and active until 2004. ... Rough Trade Records, now a member of the RIAA[1], began as an independent record label, based in London, England. ... Carl Ashley Raphael Barât (born June 6, 1978) is the frontman and lead guitarist in the band Dirty Pretty Things. ... Dirty Pretty Things are an English band fronted by Carl Barât, a former member of The Libertines. ... Peter Doherty (born March 12, 1979) is an English musician, artist and poet. ... Waterloo to Anywhere is the debut album from former Libertine, Carl Barats band Dirty Pretty Things. ...

Alan McGee, Kate Moss, and BP Fallon DJing at Death Disco NY in 2004

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Death Disco and The Queen is Dead

McGee also runs the international club night Death Disco and two other London club nights, The Queen is Dead. McGee also DJ's around the globe under the moniker of Death Disco, having residencies in New York, Budapest and Los Angeles. Another notable residency is the monthy Death Disco Budapest in Hungary, which since it's launch in 2005 September became the centre point of the scene in the two million pop. capital. McGee returns ever since to play in Budapest, Hungary each month, and he also appeared on festivals and became involved in the Hungarian music scene helping the career of bands such The Puzzle to make their stir in the UK. For other uses, see Budapest (disambiguation). ...

Recent years

Alan McGee now writes for the Guardian music blog twice a week. In 2006 he launched MEDICATED & SEDATED^[1] which is a photographic review of Death Disco from all over the world, as well as being a reflection of the London club scene. McGee launched Death Disco TV on Sky TV on July 20th, 2007 via Rockworld TV. It will launch in America in summer 2008. For other uses, see Guardian. ... British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB - formerly two companies, Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting, which merged) is a company that operates the most popular subscription television service in the UK and Ireland. ...

McGee has been sober since 1994 and is said to find drink and drugs no longer of any interest to him. His best friend Tim Burgess is now also sober. Neither show any interest in reclaiming their drugs and drink past lives.

McGee was made a Companion of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, in recognition of the work that he has carried out with students. The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is a school in the English city of Liverpool that offers training in Acting, Dance, Music, Sound Technology, Arts Management, Technical Theatre, and Theatre Design. ...

Mcgee is allowing the set up of Creation Studios by Nik Leman[Dirty Pretty Things producer] in Los Angeles in the October 2008 Leman is McGee's closest american friend.Mcgee has now declared he hated the Creation Records years and is now only interested in his life this decade buying art, shares,property and being a Dad.He blames Creation Records entirely for his depression in the 80's and 90's he can now only listen to Oasis from the Creation catalogue in 2008. McGee has recently stated he is going to help take Silver and Gold the musical by David J [ex Bauhaus and Love and Rockets]about the life and times of Edie Sedgewick to Broadway and eventually to film production after loving the musical recently in Los Angeles in april 2008.Mcgee will be in England this summer filming the next tv series of Death Disco TV which now seems to be a world wide cult success in places as far reaching as China and Russia and also in the first series was the first ever television footage of Mcgee's favourite new UK band Glasvegas which helped get them signed to ironically Sony.

In a July 2007 interview with The Guardian, McGee stated that the success and subsequent praise of My Bloody Valentine was merely a product of his hype.

"My Bloody Valentine were my comedy band. Ride were different - they were a rock band, really, a fantastic rock band - but My Bloody Valentine were a joke, my way of seeing how far I could push hype."^[2]

McGee leveled further criticism of Kevin Shields on his Guardian blog,

"Hype is fun. Everyone that worked in the music industry has been involved in it in some way, since acts sometimes need a kick-start to get the audience in front of them. Highlights of my hyping skills include talking up Kevin Shields to be a Brian Eno-like genius (when in fact you could put a monkey in the studio with Alan Moulder and make it sonically interesting), and the Boo Radleys, who were signed to demonstrate to Kevin that I could take anybody doing "his" music and make it a number one."^[3]

Mcgee's ambition before he dies is to read all the books he has in his mansion in Wales he has yet to read.

Notes

External links

• Official site
• Alan McGee's Myspace Page