British producer Kevin Nixon claims they just 'passed through'

Jack White and Eminem have been singled out by a British producer for not doing enough to celebrate the music of Detroit.



Kevin Nixon, who managed Kula Shaker and the late Kirsty MacColl, made the accusations during an interview with The Times. "The music industry more than any other has neglected Detroit," he explained. "So many musicians have left here to start careers somewhere else. The record company executives from New York or LA just fly right over."

Eminem and White Stripes drew particular comment from Nixon for their perceived lack of long-term support for the city in which they first made their names. "They just passed through" he told the paper. "They didn't build a movement. That's why I decided to bring the music industry here."



Nixon and his wife Sarah Clayman moved to Detroit a year ago to found the Detroit Institute of Music Education. The first two Detroit signees to the record label Original 1265 Recordings are MPV and Charity, as well as British export Wildflowers.



In Gigwise's view, although it's fair to say that White has little interest in revisiting his time in Detroit any time soon (his fight with the Von Bondies' Jason Stollsteimer put paid to that), it seems particularly harsh to blame two performers for the entire city's lack of support for musical output.



Both White and Eminem ensured more column inches about the city in the music press than anyone else at the turn of the millennium - what happened next just proves how difficult it is to build the next Motown.