Blur’s Alex James claims that the culture of independent music has ‘disappeared completely’

Alex James has claimed that the ‘culture’ of independent music doesn’t exist anymore.

The Blur guitarist insists that the indie spirit has transferred from the music industry to the food industry.

The keen cheese-maker told The Express: “That culture of independent music that I grew up with has disappeared really.

“All those bands that I used to see when I went to school, such as Gay Bykers on Acid, it’s really hard to exist like that now."

He added: “The small ones are definitely disappearing but if you can make pickled onion in your garage, rather than be a garage band, you’re in business, and there’s a market for interesting artisan foods.

“The spirit of independence has been transferred to food."

James, 46, who runs a farm in Oxfordshire, went on to say that he believes food has taken the place of music in Britain.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky, because food just took off and British food has been the story for the past decade,” he said.

“Switch the telly on now. It used to be music programmes but now they’re about food.”

Blur released their first album in 12 years, The Magic Whip, back in April.