Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

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The Guardian FEBRUARY 9, 2009 - by Sean Michaels

BERNARD BUTLER BLASTS BRITPOP REUNIONS

The producer and guitarist has attacked the trend for reviving '90s bands. Better not count on that Suede anniversary tour just yet.

Former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler has condemned the "embarrassing" trend of Britpop band reunions, complaining that they have "no relevance to what's going on at the moment". Of course, he's not had the chance to say this to anyone asking for a Suede reunion - because nobody has asked. "I've never had an offer to do anything as Suede," Butler admitted.

Butler's comments came as he received the producer of the year award from the Music Producers' Guild. In a sort of two-for-one, the Guild's prize doubles as a Brit award for best producer.

"I'm obsessively opposed to nostalgia," he told the BBC. "What's important is not what I did last week, it's what I'm going to do next week. I made great records - I love them. My kids play them now. But that's for them and everyone else."

These days Butler spends his time producing Tricky, Black Kids and Duffy. "If I could dedicate six months of my life to one thing, would it be somebody who's doing something that's interesting and totally new - or something that reflects what I did fifteen years ago?" he asked. "You couldn't possibly be a human being and be motivated by that."

Butler did reunite with Suede singer Brett Anderson in 2004, but it was as a new band, The Tears. They released one album of new material before breaking up.

Elbow were the night's other big winners, collecting awards for album and single of the year. The Mercury Prize-winning Seldom Seen Kid was produced by Elbow's keyboardist, Craig Potter.

Brian Eno applauded Elbow's decision to self-produce. "Quite often I get sent demos from people and sometimes they're really, really good, and they say, 'We'd like you to produce this'. And I say, 'But why? You're obviously doing really good on your own, why do you want me to do it - and take several per cent?'"

Eno defeated Björk and Mark Ronson to take home the Joe Meek Award for innovation in production.