Gang Of Four: 'Red Hot Chili Peppers based their career on ours'

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Gang Of Four guitarist Andy Gill has said he believes the Red Hot Chili Peppers have based their career on his band.

Gill, speaking ahead of the band's Shockwaves NME Awards Show at London's Heaven on February 2, said that the US band had even acknowledged the debt they owe to the British indie legends in the past.

"The Red Hot Chili Peppers have obviously based their career on Gang Of Four and they’d admit that," he told the Metro.

Gill, who produced Red Hot Chili Peppers' eponymous 1984 debut album, added: "The guitar on their single 'Can't Stop' was directly from one of our early songs and when I heard it I thought, 'That’s going a bit far'. I bumped into [Chilis bassist] Flea at a party and he said, 'Andy, I just don't understand why you've never sued us'."

Gill also spoke about being inspired by the wave of new bands in 2004 that cited them as an influence, saying: "We reconvened in 2004 and all these bands suddenly came along that sounded like us - Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Rapture – that’s definitely added a new bunch of fans."

The band's new album, 'Content', is out now.

To check the availability of Gang Of Four tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

The Shockwaves NME Awards Tour 2011 takes place throughout February, while Shockwaves NME Awards Shows are also taking place in London throughout the month. See NME.COM/TICKETS for details.

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Beady Eye's 'Bring The Light' – fans give their verdict

Beady Eye made their first song 'Bring The Light' available as a free download yesterday (November 10), and fans have been giving their verdict on the track via the NME.COM Office Blog.

The song is available for free from the band's official website, Beadyeyemusic.com, and will also be released as a seven-inch vinyl, with a cover of World Of Twist's 'Sons Of The Stage' on the B-side, via the same site.

Based on the mini-reviews posted on NME.COM it seems reactions to Beady Eye's debut have been mixed.

NME.COM user psj3809 wrote: "I'm torn on this, [I'm a] huge Oasis fan but at the moment [I'm] very disappointed… [I] suppose Liam can't win, if it sounds like another Oasis song he'll get slated, if it sounds different… he'll get slated as well. Disappointed, [I] need to hear another tune."

Mark, meanwhile, wrote: "I like it. It's a departure enough to be considered 'them', and not 'Oasis', but it's a big tune. Good song. And I like it more after every listen."

User legend was less positive about the song, writing: "Great piano loop but [I] can't help but feel this could have been mega, and [I have a] feeling of disappointment that the song sort of doesn't go anywhere. It's Liam by numbers, verse, chorse and repeat the first verse again and again, seems like he has always had a problem coming up with a second verse."

Have your say and listen to the song on the NME Office Blog now.

Beady Eye's debut album will be released next year.

New! NME Radar Album: The Best New Artists of 2010. Download Now.

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