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Rising indie icon Jake Bugg claims comments made earlier this year against X Factor boyband One Direction were 'not personal' and that he could have said the same about any other band.
"Who the f**k is saying [they're the closest thing to rock stars we have these days]? Oh, I'm pretty sure they have a good laugh. But it's easy to, isn't it? When you don't have to write any songs," he told Shortlist magazine in February 2013.
"People [call them the new Beatles] because they broke America, but that don't mean a thing. I mean, [One Direction] must know that they're terrible."
He later told NME "the ugliest one is the best singer."
However, speaking to Gigwise last week at Bushmills Live festival at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland's north coast, the 'Lightning Bolt' star claims he was merely speaking out about the comparisons between One Direction and The Beatles, and that his comments were not a personal attack.
"With the One Direction thing you know, it weren't personal. Someone said they were like the Beatles, which I thought, you know, is ridiculous. The thing is about the Beatles is they wrote great songs, so it's not a personal thing, it could be about any band," he said.
Jake Bugg performing at Radio One's Big Weekend in May, 2013
He also added that despite backlash from One Directon fans, he has no plans to change his outspoken ways.
"Some people do play it safe and it works for some people," he continued. "For me, if someone asks me something I'm gonna give my most honest and truthful answer and I'm not afraid to give my opinion, as long as that doesn't involve anyone personally. I don't mind speaking about me personally, but anyone else that's just unfair."
He also insisted that he did not feel provoked by the press into speaking out against the hugely popular boyband in order to make headlines, saying: "Our press is renowned for being quite cruel, you know I don't ever feel pressured or let anyone make me feel like that."
Below: Biffy Clyro, Jake Bugg, Jessie J perform anti-poverty gig
