Radiohead guitarist attacks piracy plans

Ed O'Brien has criticised government plans to disconnect internet users who are found to be filesharing illegally.

The Radiohead guitarist is part of the Featured Artists' Coalition (FAC), which recently issued a joint statement with the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and the Music Producers Guild attacking the proposals.

O'Brien told the BBC: "It's going to start a war which they'll never win. It won't work. It's as simple as that. I was talking to a serial file-sharer the other day who is a friend.

"He downloads films and he hasn't paid for music for six years. I asked his opinion of it and he laughed. He said, 'Even if they cut me off I'll still be able to do it'. It's something you do not want to take on, so move on."

Fellow FAC member and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree continued: "We don't want to make enemies of our fans.

"The sensible thing to do is to try to see how we can monetise all this file-sharing activity, which is evidence of a lot of interest in music."

Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg added: "We're concerned that, in an age where there is much greater competition for attention, these proposals are in danger of driving young people away from the idea of listening to music.

"As musicians, we're worried about that. We should be encouraging people to become music fans, and whether we like it or not, illicit downloading does encourage people to become music fans."