EPISODE · May 7, 2026 · 37 MIN
John Niven interview – 'I turned down Coldplay and Muse – and signed The Mike Flowers Pops'
from Scotpop · host Allan Glen
Before he was a successful author with books such as bestsellers Straight White Male and Oh Brother, Irvine-born writer John Niven, the special guest on Scotpop this week, ran with the London A&R pack in the 90s. He joins us to talk about turning down Coldplay and Muse because he “didn’t think we needed a couple of more Radioheads” and how he used his time in the music industry to write Kill Your Friends and The Battle, the recent stage production that captured the rivalry between Blur and Oasis as they fought it out for the coveted No 1 spot at the height of Britpop.As well as being a successful author and writer, John is also a former musician and a huge advocate for Scottish music. He is also one of the best storytellers I’ve ever heard. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to subscribe to Substack for a free newsletter featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news, new music tips, track of the week, scurillous gossip ... and so much more.InstagramLinkedInFacebookXStuart Adamson – In a Big CountryHave any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? You can contact me at the links above. For sponsorship opportunities, you can email me on [email protected]. CheersJohn Niven’s latest book, The Fathers, is out now on Canongate.
What this episode covers
Before he was a successful author with books such as bestsellers Straight White Male and Oh Brother, Irvine-born writer John Niven, the special guest on Scotpop this week, ran with the London A&R pack in the 90s. He joins us to talk about turning down Coldplay and Muse because he “didn’t think we needed a couple of more Radioheads” and how he used his time in the music industry to write Kill Your Friends and The Battle, the recent stage production that captured the rivalry between Blur and Oasis as they fought it out for the coveted No 1 spot at the height of Britpop.As well as being a successful author and writer, John is also a former musician and a huge advocate for Scottish music. He is also one of the best storytellers I’ve ever heard. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to subscribe to Substack for a free newsletter featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news, new music tips, track of the week, scurillous gossip ... and so much more.InstagramLinkedInFacebookXStuart Adamson – In a Big CountryHave any feedback, guest suggestions or general comments? You can contact me at the links above. For sponsorship opportunities, you can email me on [email protected]. CheersJohn Niven’s latest book, The Fathers, is out now on Canongate.
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John Niven interview – 'I turned down Coldplay and Muse – and signed The Mike Flowers Pops'
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