David Bowie producer slams Harry Styles comparison: 'Not worthy of shining his shoes'

Tony Visconti, the producer of many of David Bowie's albums, has hit out at comparisons between Harry Styles and Bowie.

The hitmaker, who collaborated with Bowie for much of his career, took umbrage with the comparisons after the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.

Read more: Harry Styles accused of 'white privilege' over Grammy speech

Visconti wrote on Facebook: “Someone just told me that Harry Styles is the new Bowie? From what I saw tonight he’s not worthy of shining his shoes.”

The former One Direction singer won Album of the Year for his third album Harry's House which was considered an upset with Adele and Beyonce favoured for the award.

Visconti and Bowie first worked together in 1969 and collaborated on 10 albums in total including Bowie's last album Blackstar which was released just days before his death in 2016. Bowie won six Grammy awards over the course of his career from 17 nominations, receiving a lifetime achievement award in 2006.

To win Album of the Year, Styles beat out a crowded field including Adele and Beyonce as well as Lizzo, ABBA, Bad Bunny, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Brandi Carlile and Mary J Blige.

In his victory speech, Styles said: “Man, I’ve been so, so inspired by every artist in this category with me. At a lot of different times in my life, I listen to everyone in this category when I’m alone. I think like on nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as ‘best’ in music."

He added: "This is really, really kind. I’m so, so grateful… This doesn’t happen to people like me very often, and this is so, so nice. Thank you very, very much.”

Styles has now won 2 Grammys, both on Sunday night with the other one being for Best Pop Vocal Album, also for Harry's House.

Many of the comparisons to Bowie come from Styles' androgynous style of dressing.

Watch below: Liam Payne and Niall Horan congratulate Harry Styles on winning Album of the Year