Creative Outlooks - Creation Records Ltd - The Label that Shaped a Generation of Music
Jan, 21 2026
If you were part of the rock, indie pop and post punk scene of the early 80s and 90s you were no doubt signed to the British independent record label – Creation Records Ltd. Every cool established band ranging from The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Felt, My Bloody Valentine and Oasis were signed to it making it a unique label and brand of its very own.
The brainchild behind it was Alan McGee and well as Dick Green and Joe Foster. McGee formed Creation Records following the culmination of various projects, including fanzine Communication Blur, his own rock outfit The Laughing Apple (with future Primal Scream guitarist and long-time friend Andrew Innes), and his running of the venue The Communication Club.
Initially, McGee wished to provide an outlet for like-minded musicians and an opportunity for young bands to see their work on vinyl. Primarily the label was in opposition to the "manufactured" synth pop of the era, that bore little resemblance to the work of his favourite acts including Public Image Ltd and the Sex Pistols.
On 23rd October 2010 a film was released by Document Productions charting the rise and fall of the iconic label. – ‘Upside Down – The Creation Records Story’ - was a fascinating insight into the record label and features contributions from Alan McGee, Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, Mark Gardener and many more.
This is the definitive story of Creation Records which operated under the stewardship of Alan McGee between the years 1984 -1999. The film has toured extensively to critical acclaim at a host of film and music Festivals worldwide including South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, Glastonbury, Berlin and Tokyo. The film won the annual Mojo Vision Award at the Glenfiddich Mojo Honours in July 2011.
Take a look at the trailer here –
The documentary also charts the demise of the label at the closure of 1999. It was Primal Scream’s XTRMNTR released in January 2000 that closed the door on Creation Records. However McGee and Foster soon formed Poptones – a raw raucous label that launched the career of The Hives in the UK. By May 2007 – Poptones reached an inevitable end due to financial reasons.
Throughout 2012 McGee kept considering resurrecting Creation Records but took up an offer to launch 359 Music from Cherry Red Records. When this came to an end he started Creation23 – the new incarnation of Creation Records.
The website is still active and features an archive video asking established acts to name their favourite Creation Band……
Many would assume it was Manchester band Oasis yet the most popular answer was My Bloody Valentine. Let’s remind ourselves why with the music video – Soon –
Alan McGee defied the critics who classed him as delusional. Being the creator of Creation Records he was the master of the bands that shaped a generation of music. Like a Beethoven pianist he played the game and was a revolutionary artist that helped spawn a series of successful bands still performing to this day. It was a period of music that could never be repeated and despite attempting to replicate his previous label’s success nothing could quantify the magnitude that Creation Records label opened for him. I’m sure bands like Primal Scream and Oasis are forever grateful for the man called Alan McGee to sign them to a label that would put them on the path to a successful career in music now, until their end of times.
^Alex Ashworth CCG Content Creator
