New film charts the rise of iconic record label Creation and it's Glaswegian founder Alan McGee

Jan 20 2011 By Ben Spencer

Alan McGee

HE was at the centre of the ultimate rock 'n' roll story of drugs, money and fights - but Alan McGee doesn't regret a thing.

McGee, founder of Creation Records, is the focal point of new documentary Upside Down, which charts the colourful history of the record label.

It will receive its Scottish premiere on February 22 as part of Glasgow Film Festival.

And despite the many ups and downs detailed in the film, McGee, 50, says he does not believe in regrets.

He said: "I think you live your life for better for worse.

"I wouldn't change things, even the bad times. You learn things out of doing things wrong, becoming a drug addict and nearly dying.

"It's a story that probably shouldn't have happened. A tiny little record label became really influential for a decade or so.

"I think, creatively, the peak for us was the time we put out albums like Screamadelica, Bandwagonesque and Loveless. Commercially, it was the Britpop stuff we did.

"But at the time we had no idea what we were really achieving, never mind doing. We were just living for the moment really."

From its origins, Creation boasted critically acclaimed acts including Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, Teenage Fanclub and, of course, Oasis.

In the later days of the label, it was instrumental in the rise of the Britpop movement.

Alan said he had been inundated with offers to turn the story of the label into a film over the years.

He added: "I just thought we needed to wait 10 years to get some perspective.

"We started talking about this one in 2005, started shooting in 2006 and finished it in 2010."

McGee is delighted Upside Down will premiere in his home city. He added: "I love Glasgow.

"It's unfortunate that when I came into music in the 80s, I probably couldn't have been successful here. I had to go to London.

"But by the time we had created Creation, you could be Teenage Fanclub and live in Glasgow."