While many U2 fans are happy that the iconic Irish band has released their new ‘Songs of Innocence’ album on iTunes for free, Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson isn’t so pleased. Nelson recently called the act “disturbing," adding that the band has basically told fans that “their music isn’t worth anything.”

In an interview with Northwest Music Scene, Nelson said, “I think music has been devalued in the eyes of the consumer, to the point now where a band like U2 decides to just give its music away and basically tells people that their music isn’t worth anything, it should be treated like something free, and that’s a bummer.” He added, “I know what it takes to make a record, I know what it takes to write a meaningful record full of songs, and get it into the consumers’ hands, and to me music still has a value, so it’s definitely something that I still struggle with.”

U2 surprised the music world by performing at Apple’s keynote address last week where the company showed off their new iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and the Apple Watch. After the performance U2 announced that their new album ‘Songs of Innocence’ was available as a free download to the half-billion iTunes users around the world. On Monday, iTunes announced that 33 million people have accessed the free album.

It’s been widely reported that U2 received $100 million from Apple to give their album away for free on iTunes. Nelson quipped, “It is crazy, and I’m sure the band got paid, so they made their money, but they’ve sent a message to everyone that music is free, and that’s disturbing.” He continued, “It’s easy to do that when you’re a multi-millionaire-billionaire and money isn’t really something that you worry about, but when you’re a working rock ‘n’ roll band and you count on every dollar, it’s disappointing to see someone do that. I don’t really like the message that it sends that music is free.”

Nelson added that the climate of music has changed so much recently that it is extremely difficult for new bands to make it these days and he noted how Buckcherry made it happen. “It’s nearly impossible," says Nelson. "I think the only reason it actually worked was the perfect storm of what was going on in the music business in the time, what was going on with social media at the time, and the work ethic of the band, Because we weren’t willing to take no for an answer from anyone." He concluded, “We shopped our completed record to all the major labels, and they passed on the record, and so we released it independently, and it went on to sell a million-and-a-half copies. So if it wasn’t for the belief that we had in the band and a lot of f---ing hard work, we wouldn’t be talking today.”

You can check out the entire Keith Nelson interview here.

Meanwhile, Buckcherry are out on the road on the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival supporting their latest EP ‘F#ck.’ They take the stage in Phoenix, Ariz. on Thursday. Check out all the tour dates here.

Watch Buckcherry Play 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?'

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