French dance music legend Laurent Garnier is quickly establishing himself as the go-to-guy for incendiary quotes. Having already laid down a vocal bashing on the superstars in the Ed Banger crew as well as stale English audiences, Garnier has recently let fly at his old stomping grounds of Paris.

“Paris has always been a city orientated more towards glitter and money than the real core of music. Rock & roll has always been big in Paris and jazz but as far as techno is concerned, apart from three or four underground places, Paris is empty. Nightlife there is more about having models and the right fashion people in the club rather than playing good music and people going crazy for it.”

20 years after establishing himself as France’s first superstar DJ, Laurent Garnier remains one of dance culture’s most opinionated, outspoken characters, whether chatting about his birthplace or its trashy celebrity namesake, Paris Hilton.

“Paris Hilton? I think she’s the biggest fucking joke,” he snorts when quizzed about the American socialite, “Who the fuck is she? She’s just a party girl with lots of money. Great! That doesn’t make her exciting, sorry.”

Continuing on a similar bent, Garnier slams the celebrity lifestyle, revealing that he’s staunchly opposed to playing at any opulent VIP and celebrity parties.

“I never want to. It’s not my thing. I was even asked a by (football player) Thierry Henry to play at a party with either him or another football star and I said ‘no’. Because what would I do? I like playing music and I like telling stories through my music and I really can’t see myself being able to do my thing at places like that. I need to express myself, I’ve never done it for the money, but always for the love of music. So no, no. I don’t see the point. If it’s someone famous who’s been following me for a long time and there’s some kind of story then I would do it, but otherwise no. I was also asked to go and play at a party in Cannes for the film festival and said no.”

Somebody get Laurent a soapbox already!