The Charlatans are giving away their new single 'You Cross My Path' for free, from 10am this morning. You can download it here. The band, who have scored nine Top 10 albums (including three number ones) and twenty two Top 40 singles, will also be making their tenth studio album, currently untitled, available to download for free in the New Year. Lead singer Tim Burgess explains why the band decided to give away their music for free.
'The move to leave our last label Sanctuary came from the band. Most of us didn't even want to sign to them in the first place, but this was the only option that we were given by our previous management.
We initially wanted to start up our own label, but this idea only lasted for about 10 seconds, as we didn't know how to start one as good as Factory or Rough Trade. We loved the idea that we could own all our music and be in total control. When we asked Alan McGee to manage us, he and I pretty much immediately went on a DJ tour to get to know each other better and talk about/plan the future for the Charlatans. The idea of the Charlatans giving away their next album for free came from discussions on the train while we travelling between destinations up and down the country.
Alan and I were MySpace obsessives and I think the idea kind of came from that. It took some of the band a little while to get their heads around the idea, but YES! the Charlatans were mental enough to give away their tenth album for free, on the condition that we made it the best album we have ever done!
The overall concept itself is the new rock'n'roll! As Mick Jones from Carbon/Silicon says: "Well, maybe it's crazy, to give the game away. But it's still a buzz to jump into the fray". The buzz and perversity of the idea is influencing and inspiring the feeling that runs through our new songs.
Personally, I have sobered up and got my shit together, and I feel a lot more rejuvenated and creative than I have for ten years. We are all deadly serious about the purity of this move, but I do laugh about the perversity of it. It's very Tony Wilson (R.I.P), it's very Alan McGee, and it's also very Charlatans!
Don't be fooled by my nervous laughter, this has been a very well thought out political act. This is something I think the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin would have done in their hey day, they were pioneering bands. I want bands to get what they deserve, I am standing up for bands that now have to sign over part of their merchandise and live income to secure a record deal. Young bands get ripped off, because they don't know any better.
What we are doing is totally new therefore we can make our own rules up as we go along.'
The Charlatans are on tour in November: Sat 3 ABC, Glasgow Sun 4 The Ritz, Manchester Mon 5 Shepherds Bush Empire, London Tue 6 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
