'SPIN' Writer Calls out the Last Shadow Puppets' Miles Kane for Hitting on Her During Interview

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Mar 8, 2016

The Last Shadow Puppets are about to release their sophomore record Everything You've Come to Expect, but unfortunately it seems like the band's Miles Kane missed the memo on what's expected of decent human beings in a professional setting.
 
A new feature from SPIN finds writer Rachel Brodsky calling out the musician for his inappropriate conduct during their interview.

Taking his carefully crafted '70s-inspired sleazeball image beyond just physical appearance, Kane first made uncomfortable remarks about butter. Then his bandmate Alex Turner's crotch. Then he turned small talk into an invitation to take his interviewer upstairs to a hotel room. Finally, a "not-entirely consensual kiss on the cheek" from Kane at the end of their meeting (and basically no insight about the upcoming album) cemented her uneasy feelings about the entire interaction.
 
Brodsky acknowledges that the band were at the end of a long day of press interviews, but questions how much she should be willing to put up with for the sake of getting a story. She writes:
 
As I walk away, I try to suppress my ballooning sense that something wasn't right back there. Is it normal to be asked up to a male musician's room — even as a joke? Or cheek-kissed, repeatedly high-fived, and stared down? Even if he's entirely harmless (and I'm sure that he is), is this the sort of thing that I should let go for the sake of my job?
 
She links the incident to a greater "professionalism gap" between journalists and artists, noting that women are often especially vulnerable when it comes to navigating uncomfortable situations for their jobs — specifically referencing publicist Heathcliff Berru's fall from grace earlier this year.
 
"This is not about the Last Shadow Puppets," she writes. "This is about the ongoing culture of imbalance, be it writers catering to famous musicians, women catering to men, or women catering to society's conciliatory expectations."
 
Kane, later being made aware that his advances made Brodsky uncomfortable, contacted the writer to apologize, writing:
 
Dear Rachel
 
I really enjoyed chatting to you about the new record. I am just very sorry that silly remarks I made during our interview have caused offence. I recognise my 'Carry On' humour during the interview was ill judged and I am mortified that it made you feel uncomfortable. Please accept my sincere apologies.
 
Miles.

Brodsky concludes her feature by saying that while she appreciates Kane's gesture, it "doesn't make me feel better." It doesn't erase the ongoing pattern of women being objectified in their places of work — yes, even if that place of work involves interviewing rock stars in hotel lobbies.
 
She ends powerfully, stating: "Instead of apologies, I'd like to see a little more foresight and a lot more professionalism toward women in the music industry."
 
Read the full feature over here at SPIN.
 

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