Before we go making generalizations about the Irish or something else that might be perceived as offensive, we'll just say that Philly Byrne, frontman for retro-thrash Dublin band Gamma Bomb, is as bold and uncompromising as his music.

We've heard musicians admit that there's nothing that can be done about filesharing and that ticket sales and merch that are keeping them off wellfare, but this guest blog from Byrne marks the first time an artist has written us to support what many regard as illegal downloading. Read Byrne's blog and then leave your comments whether you agree with him or not:

Here's a confession: I download music.

I copy albums from my friends. I mess with my iPod's software to use it as an external hard drive. I use torrents. I scan blogs for rips of records. I cram my USB port with illicit musical booty and run cackling into the night. I, ladies and gentlemen, am the music fan of the 21st century.

Not only that, but I'm also a struggling musician, a fledgling recording artist on an indie label with only two albums to my name. I know as well as my friends at the label that record sales (both mine and those of other artists) keep the music industry show on the road, but still, I'm a filthy, swindling downloader. I'm fine with it though, because I believe that downloading music for free isn't thieving. And like it or not, I'm in step with most modern music fans when I say that. Read more...