Kanye: Coldplay "more talentedthan The Beatles"

Thu 11th Nov, 2010 in International News

One of the most important PR lessons of 2010 has been that it you want to make sure that your name appears on every blog and music news website in the world in the week that you’re releasing your new album you need to say something amazingly controversial and/or staggeringly stupid.

Prime examples of this have included Kings of Leon dismissing their hits and baiting Arcade Fire and MIA inciting violence against red-heads and mouthing off about Twilight and Gaga .

Now Kanye West – no stranger to the promotional powers of the ridiculous quote – has issued a particularly fine example of the publicity seeking quote by claiming that Coldplay are “more talented than The Beatles”.

Kanye has already worked with Coldplay’s Chris Martin on the 2008 track Homecoming, but believes a full collaboration with Coldplay could lead to “one of the greatest albums ever”.

West explained that “America has, and probably always will, dominate music across the globe but it’s always been the British who pull out that very special band. We have had amazing bands like Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses but it’s the British who have had the cream with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones setting the standard. I love Coldplay, and I honestly think they are on the same level as The Beatles. In 30 years, when Coldplay are old men, people will look back and say, ‘These guys were more talented than The Beatles.’ I have worked with Chris Martin and the man is a genius, as a performer and a songwriter he is on the same level as John Lennon. I am not saying this sort of shit lightly, it’s really how talented the guy is. And Coldplay can go down as the best ever – even bigger than The Beatles.”

Does Kanye really believe this? Does it even matter? Is it all just attention seeking to bait media reaction and sell albums? Maybe; probably not; and of course, but when he’s releasing an album as good as My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy we’re happy enough to give Kanye all the attention he wants.