Kerr: Ad is Rotten, Johnny

ROCKER Jim Kerr has slammed music legends John Lydon, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed for appearing in "duff" adverts.

The Simple Minds singer, 49, launched a stinging attack on rock'n'roll heroes who lend their names to product promotion.

Dairy Crest's pounds 5million ads featuring ex-Sex Pistols singer Lydon helped boost butter sales.

And reformed wild man Iggy Pop is the star of Swiftcover's insurance ads with the slogan: "Get a life. Get Swift covered."

Kerr said: "I was aghast at that. I thought it looked really cheap.

"There was no escaping it since it appeared not only on TV but also on the side of London buses.

"The overkill of the campaign undoubtedly damaged beyond repair my image of 'the Ig' as the eternal renegade wild boy who lived by his own rules.

"Ditto regarding John Lydon's tragic butter advert.

"Perhaps the least said about Lou Reed's attempt to interest us in Cartier jewellery, the better.

"I never thought I would see the day when a triumvirate such as Johnny Rotten, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed would be involved in trying to punt us dairy products, gold bracelets and car insurance.

"Let's be clear, nevertheless, I am not criticising any of them for choosing to endorse commercial products.

"I am not that much of a puritan, we have done so ourselves. We have also turned down more than a few.

"One campaign in particular requested our Alive And Kicking, suggesting that they would change the chorus lyrics to 'I like fried chicken'."

Simple Minds release new album Graffiti Soul inMay.

(c) 2009 Daily Record; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.