Steve Lillywhite Keen To Replace Cowell On 'American Idol'

Grammy Award-winning British record producer Steve Lillywhite has sent a bizarre video to the producers of 'American Idol' asking to replace Simon Cowell as a judge on the show.

Lillywhite, one of the most successful producers of the last 30 years, working with the Rolling Stones, U2, Simple Minds and Morrissey, introduces himself in the video with "Hi! I'm a well-known record producer ... I have a great accent and I have great credibility."

He goes on to claim he discovered U2 and "spent 30 years telling Bono what to do", and that "99% [of music] is rubbish."

Lillywhite has said the video was not meant for public viewing, telling the L.A. Times, "[It] was cut and sent [to 'American Idol''s producers], then somebody put it up [online].

"I didn't mind that someone did it. I tweeted that I was making the video, then I sent it to a friend who put it up."

Cowell is soon to leave 'American Idol' to set up the US version of 'The X Factor,' with some reports suggesting Madonna and industry bigwig Tommy Mottola are lined up to replace him.

If Lillywhite doesn't get the gig, he can console himself with hunkering down with Evanescence, whose upcoming third album he is about to produce.