Acts from Athlete to the Sugababes and Basement Jaxx are asking for help from stylists. And Keane, one of the major breakout groups of 2004, had hired a consultant to advise them on their look, logo and promotional material before they had even made a record.

“Our job is to visualise the larger picture behind a band – to make music visible in some way,” Gerard Saint, creative director at design company Big Active – who work with Athlete, Garbage and the Futureheads – told BBC World Service’s The Music Biz programme.
(Source: BBC News)

Surely the above is another sign that we are in THE END TIMES OF INDIE.

It’s beyond a joke. Why the hell should any band need to go to a stylist? A band’s style should come from themselves, not from outsiders. If they haven’t got any idea of how they want to look, or at the very least how they don’t want to look, then the fuckers shouldn’t be in a band in the first place. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t care how a band dresses as long as the inspiration is theirs.

The most ridiculous part of this is that there are now apparently “indie” stylists.

I want that job. Gimme.

“Lads, lads… get rid of all that posh clobber, I’ve been down Portobello Road and got you some smelly old coats. Don’t wash your hair for a couple of weeks, stay out of the sun, eh? And could you all make a bloody effort to look more po-faced and depressed at the next video shoot, eh? Here, have these choccy bars, they’ll help bring out your spots and make your gums bleed properly. Now, pass round this bag of fleas between you all…”

Cunts.