Putting Out A Record Without A Band

There is a lot more precedent for being a writer/producer/manager of a young, attractive band than there is for Brian Wilson's thing. Write their stuff, produce them and manage them let them enjoy doing all the shitty stuff you're obviously tired of.

The usual wheeze for this sort of thing is to identify a role model and try to follow the same steps as they did. I can't, at this moment, think of someone who quit a band in possession of tons of material and successfully put out an album without any live shows. Unsuccessfully, yes: Donna from Elastica, Tim Smith of the Cardiacs, Carl Puttman from Cud etc. They all seem mega-low key and forgettable.

The most logical thing would seem to be to make all your music yourself and just rent musicians for short tours ala Divine Comedy, Edwyn Collins etc, making yourself the centre of the band. Then people would notice you more.

The female Kim Fowley, perhaps, but hopefully more talented: Take it one step further and make it an "indie-rock" boy band. Write their songs and their contracts, be their spiritual "adviser", and generally mack the scene while they sweat onstage.

This concept has some real cultural cash-value. Play it well, and you can buy a home in the Marina. OK, maybe not, but at least a respectable flat in Potrero Hill. (You'll pardon my San Francisco-centric view of the world, s'il vous plait.)

I just wonder if young boyband boys would put up with management and songwriting from a female, though. I suppose I had better make myself hott again, then they might go along with it.

Have you thought about approaching other labels with your press/demos?