"Cool" winner slags NME

Beth Gossip blames sexism

27 Nov 06 - Beth Ditto from The Gossip has had a go at the magazine which proclaimed her the coolest person in rock.

She was apparently due to feature on the cover of the magazine along with four other women who featured in the top ten of the NME cool list.

But when the cool issue appeared Muse (whose singer Matt Bellamy came a mere 27th in the list) were on the cover.

"They totally copped out".
Beth Ditto, The Gossip

Beth told 6 Music she thought it was a shame the NME didn't have the courage of their convictions:

"They totally copped out.

"I think it's disappointing because I actually thought that things were getting somewhere, and they were just too chicken.

"I think it's just another weird backhanded gesture towards women in the music industry. And had they all been men, I'm sure it would have made it on the cover."

At the time of writing the NME hadn't responded to 6 Music's request for a statement.

Nick Wallis