Reverend and the Makers' Jon McClure believes in being honest.
The indie singer-songwriter has always been outspoken and when he spoke to News Shopper this week ahead of the band's gig at British Summer Time at Hyde Park, on the same bill as The Libertines and The Pogues, it was no different.
He told us: "I have to be honest, I canât lie."Â
Of course, that means he doesn't mince his words about people if he doesn't like them.Â
Here are some of the Rev's greatest hits from our chat...
READ THE INTERVIEW HEREÂ
Tom Odell
Jon's been involved in a Twitter spat with the floppy haired pop star, in which he told Odell âshut up Gail Platt, you f*****g bedwetterâ and apparently the feelings run deep.
In our interview, he said: âYou know Gail Platt of Coronation Street, he looks like her a bit. Him, her and Luka Modric were separated at birth.â
Nick Grimshaw
The Radio 1 breakfast show presenter is clearly not on Jonâs Christmas card list. But maybe Nick should send him a card?
Jon said: âLifeâs more interesting if you have characters. Can we not have a bit of variety in culture?
âEverybody seems to be like a Blue Peter presenter. Thatâs why I have such umbrage with people like Nick Grimshaw, because he represents no one.
âAlmost to a man, everyone I know thinks youâre a total a******e. It has got to a point where I have to suck up to you and Zane Lowe on Twitter so you play my record?
âIâm the one with the talent, mate, not you. How have we got to that point where we have to kiss your arse?
âIt should be the other way round. John Peel wouldnât have expected Mark E Smith to pay deference to him.â
Guitar bands who donât write their own songs
Coming from someone whose music largely reflects his personality, this isnât much of a surprise.
Unusually, he doesnât name names. Up to you to guess who he meant.
âEven the artists that do come out donât write their own songs. Theyâre claiming to be guitar gunslingers, but they donât write their own songs.â
David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Justin Bieber et al
Pondering the end of an era, Jon said: âI got into it at the end, I got a big old publishing deal and bought a house. Iâm laughing.
âSix months later, the walls crumbled and everyoneâs gone. Out with the old and in with Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Justin Bieber, Tom Odell. It all starts getting a little bit safe and corporate and boring.â
Billy Bragg (except, not really)
Reverend and the Makers flirted with political music on their second album, 2007âs French Kiss in the Chaos, but keeping on making political statements is boring, he said: âI love Billy, but come on Billy, chill out a bit. Do you ever just fancy having a w**k and watching the footy, Billy?â
Charlie Brooker
Outspoken football Joey Barton is admired by Jon, because heâs someone not afraid to speak his mind.
However, he said: âThe reason he is despised really is because people like Charlie Brooker donât like real working class people to have an opinion. They want to speak on our behalf.
âJoey Barton is one of the few people in culture who is genuinely of the people.â
Frank Turner
Talking about his past political statements, he said: âIâm not a Frank Turner who totally disavows his political statements, Iâm totally behind everything I have ever said.â
NME magazine
Theyâre a bunch of public schoolboys, apparently.
Jon said: âWhen I made a political album and went on about Blair and Iraq, I have been proved totally correct.
âDespite the fact the NME â letâs face it, theyâre a bunch of public school boys - said I was talking s***, I have been proved totally correct. I was talking about Iraq. Look whatâs happened in Iraq this week.â
Himself
Not even the Reverend is immune to the sermon. At one stage, he even drops the c-bomb in relation to himself. But, as he said, heâs honest...
âBecause Iâm quite a Marmite character, if you stay the same way for ages people start to think your convictions are real and youâre not full of s**t.
âPeople think âyou really are a c***, arenât ya?â
âYeah, I am. Iâm not playing at it. I really am.â
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