'Pretender' Hawkins blasted over Band Aid row
Music mogul Louis Walsh today said the Band Aid “Battle of the Lines” between U2 legend Bono and the Darkness front man Justin Hawkins was “ridiculous”.
He said the squabble overshadowed the worthwhile cause behind the charity song.
The West Life manager was attending a champagne party to celebrate half a century of Guinness World Records, and was collecting a certificate on behalf of the Irish band for their record of the most singles to debut at No 1 in the UK charts (12) by one group.
He said that in his mind there was never any contest between the two singers and that Hawkins should “go back to his day job”.
He said: “It’s ridiculous. You cannot compare Justin Hawkins and Bono. One’s a rock star, the other’s a pretender, a karaoke singer.
“Bono had to sing the line. Geldof had to give it to his friend and I think the record’s going to do really well but I don’t think it’s going to be as good as the original because that captured the moment.”
Walsh, who is in his late forties and lives in Dublin, added that he was also over the heartache of being forced to boot out his band Voices With Soul from ITV’s reality music show The X Factor.
But he added that fellow judge Simon Cowell was sometimes too big for his boots.
“I think the show’s great and Tabby should win it but the only problem is Simon thinks it’s his show.”
Former Hear’Say singer Kym Marsh joined him at the central London bash at the Royal Opera House to launch next year’s edition of the Guinness World Record book.
The 28-year-old of St Alban’s, Hertfordshire, who’s currently appearing on stage in a London production of Saturday Night Fever was being honoured for a record set by her former group.
Hear’Say, which was created from another smash reality TV show, Popstars, had the fastest selling debut single in the UK charts with 549,823 sales for their track Pure and Simple which shot straight to No 1 in 2001.
Marsh said that although the band went through a rocky patch the achievements made it worthwhile.
“We did have our ups and downs but we still had great fun along the way and it was a great experience,” she said.
“This is just a great achievement for a band like we were and something we’ll be proud of for a long time.”
Asked about how former band mate Suzanne Shaw was doing in light of reports that her partner Darren Day cheated on her she said she was reserving her judgment.
She said of heavily pregnant Shaw, who was expected at today’s event but failed to show: “They must have been happy to be having a baby together but I’m reserving my judgment on this.”
Top of the Pops presenter Fearne Cotton also picked up the record certificate for the longest running music TV show on behalf of the programme which has been going strong for 40 years.
The 23-year-old, who lives in south west London, said she was delighted as it’s her “dream job”.
She added: “It’s just amazing. It’s a show I’ve watched since I was a kid.”
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