December 12, 2008 14:39

Supergrass appoint bassist as managing director of band

Group have parted company with record company to start their own label

Supergrass have left Parlophone, the EMI-owned record label that has been their home since the release of their 1994 debut single 'Caught By The Fuzz'.

Bassist Mickey Quinn, who has now been appointed Supergrass' 'managing director', said the band would release all future music on their own record label - Supergrass Records.

He said of the label: "When you're footing the bill you pull your horns in. In a lot of ways that makes you more creative."

The bassist cited the changing landscape of the music industry in helping the band to make the decision.

EMI was acquired by private equity group Terra Firma in August 2007. Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Radiohead have all left EMI since the takeover.

Quinn told BBC News that Supergrass' decision to leave Parlophone was mutual between both parties.

"We had a pretty good run with Parlophone when we were signed to them, but it's more a case that Parlophone has changed so much over the past year," he explained.

He added: "A lot of people seem to have left the company that were there for a long time, that we respected.

"For whatever reason, we both came to the decision that it's probably better if we weren't signed to them any more."

The first release on Supergrass Records was the band's June single 'Rebel In You', which was sold exclusively through Supergrassrecords.com.