More about: Spiritualized
Jason Pierce slams 'fashionable' festival culture
Spiritualized frontman, Jason Pierce, has launched a verbal tirade on the UK's 'festival culture'.
The 46-year-old claims that music festivals have mellowed over recent years and are no longer the 'rock 'n' roll' events they once were.
Pierce told Drowned in Sound: "Festivals are the death of [art]. And they’ve gotten straighter as the years have gone on too.
"They’re less about drugs and rock and roll now. They’re more about community."
Despite Spiritualized headlining Welsh event, Festival No.6, in September, the singer expressed his concern at the 'fashionable' nature of festivals.
He explained how he feels it has got to the stage where there is little focus on the bands that are performing.
"I know everyone has started thinking that [festivals are] the way you see bands now, but I’ve always said bands are the least important part of a festival."
Spiritualized performing at Barcelona's Primavera Sound Festival
The former Spacemen 3 singer also voiced his opinion that festivals provide bands with a platform that they are not worth.
He believes the abnormal size of crowd that many smaller bands get at festivals is likely to 'inflate their egos'.
Pierce added: "Bands still soak up the glory like they're worth this many people. You get those awful singalongs and a band's ego kicks in when the crowd sings their words back.
"It’s as if they’re standing on stage thinking ‘This is what we’re worth’ and really the audience would sing 'We’ll Meet Again' if it was playing."
The Spirtualized released their seventh studio album 'Sweet Heart Sweet Light' this year.
Pierce went on to say that he wants to produce something "freer" on his next record after being inspired by improvisational shows at London's Cafe Oto.
See the official video for Spirtualized single 'Little Girl' below.
Photos: the best pictures from the 2012 festival season
Flaming Lips - Parklife Weekender, Manchester 09/06/12
The Killers - V Festival, Weston Park, Staffordshire 18/08/12.
Frank Carter of Pure Love, Dot To Dot festival, Nottinghamshire 03/06/12
Madness - Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert, Buckingham Palace roof 04/06/12.
Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and Nile Rogers (Chic) - Parklife Weekender, Manchester 09/06/12
Stevie Wonder - Bestival, Isle of Wight 09/09/12.
Robbie Williams - Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert, Buckingham Palace 04/06/12
Lana Del Rey - Latitude festival, Suffolk 13/07/12.
Metallica - Download festival, Donington Park, Leicestershire 09/06/12.
Sir Paul McCartney - Olympics Opening Ceremony, London 28/07/12.
Spice Girls - Olympics Closing Ceremony, London 13/08/12.
Rudimental - Creamfields festival, Cheshire,25/08/12.
Grace Jones - Lovebox festival, London 16/06/12.
Stone Roses - Heaton Park, Manchester 29/06/12.
Bob Dylan - Hop Farm festival, Kent 30/06/12.
Deadmouse - Wireless festival, London 06/07/12.
Kasabian - Reading Festival 25/08/12.
At The Drive-In - Leeds Festival 26/08/12.
Florence & The Machine - Bestival, Isle of Wight 07/09/12
Coldplay & Rihanna - Paralympics Closing Ceremony, London 09/09/12.
More about: Spiritualized
Photo: WENN.com
