Famed English music producer Steve Lillywhite is campaigning hard to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol after Cowell steps aside after the current season.

Lillywhite has produced albums over the past thirty years for U2, Dave Matthews Band, 30 Seconds to Mars, Counting Crows, Peter Gabriel, Matchbox Twenty, Morrissey, Jason Mraz, Phish, The Rolling Stones, and Switchfoot to name a few.

He is currently producing Amy Lee (of Evanescence fame) solo album due later this fall.

Lillywhite would make a very solid replacement, albeit a very typecast one. I believe they will likely go for more known star power than Steve. The days of the show are numbered as it is with Cowell’s departure, just months after Paula Abdul left the show.