DAMON ALBARN - A MAN ON A HUMAN SCALE

Not that he wants to have a go at anyone, or anything, like, but... Damon Albarn isn't impressed by the bleeding hearts of showbiz:

“Radiohead — I’m not going to get into anyone, but bands who care about certain things and then go on one-and-a- half-year stadium tours are just total hypocrites.

“In one sense you’ve got this developing humanist thing that’s coming out of you, which is great.

“Then you’re creating these massive impersonal events where you set yourself up as the subject of thousands of people’s adoration. Where is the humanity in that? That’s just idolatry.”

It's much more human, of course, to only ever appear at awards shows in the guise of computer-generated cartoon holograms.

He's also not letting Live8 off the hook yet - causing consternation at The Sun, who see criticism of Geldof (except from Murdoch papers) as the modern heresy:

Despite the event raising millions for charity, Damon moaned at the time that there were not enough African groups on stage with the Western performers.

He said: “You can’t question Geldof’s passion. But him and Bono — if you’re so interested and care about Africa, think about the people, see them as a neighbour. Be interested in what they are interested in and don’t impose your own ideas. It’s imperious, it really is.”

We're not quite sure why the "millions raised for charity" in any way negates Albarn's original criticisms - you could raise millions for guide dogs by charging people to stick fireworks through people's letterboxes, but that doesn't make it any more moral - but to be fair to Geldof and Bono, they have been to Africa as often as Mr. Damon; I don't think anyone could accuse them of not understanding the nature of the problems, just that they have lost sight of the solutions.

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