Guitarist brands Cowell "a joke"

A member of legendary pop band Duran Duran has branded Simon Cowell a “joke” and accused him of helping to ruin the British music industry.

Guitarist Andy Taylor said Pop Idol’s Mr Nasty knew nothing about nurturing talent.

“If the world thinks Simon Cowell and Nicky Chapman are representative of people in the music industry, they’re wrong,” he said of the Pop Idol judges.

“Simon Cowell is the guy that discovered Sinitta. I rest my case. It’s a joke.”