No single label owner had a greater reputation in the 90's in UK indie than Alan McGee. He discovered and signed Oasis, released Teenage Fan Club, managed The Libertines, was instrumental in the careers of The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine, and ran Creation Records until its closure in 1999.
In recent years, McGee has continued releasing music and has returned to managing acts like The Happy Mondays, Black Grape, Shaun Ryder and Cast. Obviously not deterred by his previous experiences, Alan has also started a 7-inch label named Creation23 because he ‘wants to put out records again’ and has signed a new band from Galway – The Clockworks.
Alan spoke to Ed about his beginnings in the music industry, and how he came into the business very much as a fan. The first bands he tried to sign were The Smiths, Prefab Sprout, and The Pogues after their second gig. Alan seems to have always been drawn to the more eccentric types, but as he said “I’m not a genius, I just facilitate geniuses.”
Alan is very impressed by the Irish talent out there at the moment, name checking Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital, and he has recently signed Galway band The Clockworks. They got in touch with him on Instagram and told him that they are a punk version of The Streets, which he was very impressed by!
Alan has a show on Boogaloo Radio every Monday from 6-8pm. Each week, McGee is joined by a close friend from the industry, and so far has featured Bob Geldof, Lawrence from Felt, Guy Chadwick, Nick Moran and Carl Barat of The Libertines. Alan has been really enjoying doing the show and wishes he found radio earlier in life. Maybe next time he’s in town he’ll make an appearance on the Today FM airwaves!
You can see Alan at one of his appearances around the country this week. The dates are:
- Weds 16th Oct - Sugar Club, Dublin
- Fri 18th Oct - Mike the Pies, Listowel, Co Kerry
- Sat 19th Oct - The Stables at Smiddy's, Mullingar
- Sun 20th Oct - The Spirit Store, Dundalk
Each night will consist of a conversation with Alan, followed by a Q&A with the audience and some great Creation Records and Alan McGee related tunes too. Tickets available from Eventbrite.ie and the venues.
To hear the conversation in full, press the play button on screen.
