March 19, 2007 12:13

Antony & The Johnsons tell fans to stop illegal downloads

Singer says it will stop him making a new album

Antony Hegarty from Antony & The Johnsons has pleaded with fans to stop illegally downloading his music.

The singer was posted his complaint on Just One Star, a fansite dedicated to him.

In a post, the singer wrote: “Now I have one favour to ask you. Please stop recording my concerts and trading them, it makes me feel terrible.

“I feel like the thing I have to offer an audience is the live experience. But for them to record my concerts sort of feel like I am being stolen from. It's kind of like inviting people over for dinner and before they leave they go into your fridge and clear you out, take everything you have, on their way out the door."

The singer went onto the say pirating had affected his progress on his new album, the follow up to 2005’s ’I Am A Bird Now’.

“This year I was hoping to develop ideas for the new album and some live concerts, but at this rate I am feeling discouraged because of the bootlegging," he explained. "So do me a favour...be my fan and my friend and don't record my shows.”

Hegarty will appear on the new Bjork album ’Volta’ which is released on May 7.