Alan McGee: The Creation of Creation

This May sees the release of Upside Down on DVD - a film that charts the history of Creation Records, home in the '90s to such luminaries as Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Super Furry Animals and of course, Oasis.

We had a brief chat with the label boss Alan McGee about the beginnings, the ends and - if you will - the middles of the Creation Records story.

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ARTROCKER: If there was a conversation or moment which sparked the inception of Creation, what was it?

MCGEE: It was a Jamming! fanzine article by Tony Fletcher in 1982. It was brilliant and made me start Creation.

Why were PiL, and before them the Sex Pistols so important to you at that time, in the early '80s?

I love Lydon and [the PiL album] Metal Box changed my life. As had the Pistols beforehand.

Of the film Upside Down, whose recollections made you laugh the most and why?

It is pretty funny throughout, weirdly enough. Noel and Bobby are both very funny in it.

What was it about the film that shocked you the most?

What shocked me the most is that a lot of it I don't really remember... so it's a busk.

What (or who) was it that made you optimistic that dance culture and guitar music could work together brilliantly?

Going out to clubs and taking E... we wanted them to be dancing to Creation Records' stuff.

Was the argumentative nature of Oasis easy to deal with from your end?

No, they were cool. They still are.

What was your response when you discovered SFA had bought an army tank with some advertising money?

I wrote the cheque so I knew all about it. I liked the idea...



At what point did it become apparent that Creation Records was going to be a massively successful enterprise?

It was probably when I heard 'Wonderwall' for the first time.

Music Week voted Creation Label of the Year in '98, then in '99 the label dissolved. Did it seem surreal that it was in trouble so soon after huge amounts of success?

We weren't in trouble in '99 - we were bored. I own 5 mansions all over the world - life is okay.

Looking back, what's your happiest memory of running Creation?

Closing it.

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