June 18, 2009 15:50

Supergrass covers project 'inspired by Michael Jackson'

Hot Rats was born out of 'Beat It' cover

Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich has revealed how Supergrass's new side-project was inspired by Michael Jackson.

Singer Gaz Coombes and drummer Danny Goffey's new band Hot Rats was born out of a cover of 'Beat It' the pair performed live under their previous moniker The Diamond Hoo Ha Men, according to Godrich.

The producer told NME.COM: "We went into the studio to record it because I've got a studio in Covent Garden (central London). They came in and did it and decided it wasn't that good and thought of other songs we really liked.

"So we bashed out a bunch of covers which was great. It was really high-energy psychedelia."

The record, which is due out in the autumn, includes covers by Sex Pistols, The Kinks, Pink Floyd, Elvis Costello, The Doors, Pink Floyd and Beastie Boys.

"We tried to find songs that were not recorded badly but were recorded in a way which you could finish them or do them in a way which was slightly better," explained Godrich.

"It's your sort of classic favourite mixtape, what you think maybe people haven’t heard, which is done really tastefully."

Meanwhile, Nigel Godrich is set to host a special gig by The Dead Weather in London on June 22, which will be broadcast live online.