Wayne Coyne Tears Arcade Fire A New Asshole
It's true. That headline is not in the least bit hyperbolic. During a phone interview with Rolling Stone's Andy Greene, Wayne Coyne went to pretty great lengths to diss Win and his troops. According to Rolling Stone, the Flaming Lips frontman and Green were talking about "the movers and shakers in the music world" when the subject shifted from Brian Eno to Radiohead to Arcade Fire (of course). RS also notes that "Coyne is not comparing Eno to the Arcade Fire -- Eno was just a talking point." He actually has many talking points.
Via Rolling Stone:
"I'm a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness ... We've played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They treated everybody in their vicinity like shit. I thought, 'Who do they think they are?' I don't know why people put up with it. I wouldn't put up with it. I don't care if it's Arcade Fire or Brian Eno. If either of them walked into a room and treated people like shit I'd be like, 'Fuck you, get outta here.'... People treat Arcade Fire like they're the greatest thing ever and they get away with it. Those sort of opinions change my view of their music. They have good tunes, but they're pricks, so fuck 'em. Who does Arcade Fire think they are? I've been around groups. I've been around the Edge from U2 and he's the fucking sweetest guy ever. I was around Justin Timberlake when he was young and he was just a normal, nice, kind person. Anyone can be polite and kind and people who have the privilege and money and attention should understand that. If they don't, then fuck 'em."
Party on, Wayne. [Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty]
Posted at 1:14 PM by brandon in Where's The Beef?
Tags: Arcade Fire | The Flaming Lips | Win Butler
I'm on Wayne's side. How can you argue with the nicest guy in the world?
Now if Robert Smith had said this.....
Score = 65
so how many days til wayne comes out to "clarify" his comments?
Score = -2
not his style. that's the beauty of the man. in a day and age where everyone is so protective of his or her image, wayne coyne simply doesn't give half of a fuck.
Score = 37
Best picture/headline combo EVER.
Score = 199
Ouch. I've been to a few Arcade Fire shows at seated venues and each time they shunned the seating layout and invited all their fans to the front to dance to the music. I thought that was pretty nice of them.
Score = 13
unless you arrive late and can't get to your seats. whoops on you.
Score = 13
I dated win and he always made me be the big spoon :(
Score = 121
http://twitter.com/NickfromIslands/status/1280527300
Score = 5
The genuine kindness of musicians is a make/break deal that determines my favorite bands. I couldn't stand arrogant assholes in high school; I can't stand them now.
Score = 20
i tend to agree, on the music aspect... i don't know them, and probably won't take Wayne's opinion... but i've always thought their music was awesome. but they have yet to put together an ALBUM that is mind blowing.
Score = -20
??? Funeral?
Score = 1
Funerals was awesome at parts and not so awesome at other parts. There are just a couple of songs that don't seem to fit. Great tunes, but not in the concept of the album... just my opinion though.
Score = -3
Was anyone at their Austin show a few years back? Win took a bass to his wife (Regina?) and pushed her off the stage. Then she cried. The end. I think, at the very least, Win is probably an asshole (given that he thrust a bass into his wife repeatedly forcing her off stage while she cried and the crowd went silent). Though I didn't quite get that from the other members. Course, it's been a while and they've gotten way more attention since that tour so maybe. Either way I've heard great great things about Wayne from multiple friends who've met and spoken with him for great lengths. He's probably telling the truth about Arcade Fire. He's no Kanye. Much luv Yeezy.
Score = 60
Was this the 2005 show at Stubb's...night before they played the ACL fest for the first time? If so, I have no recollection of that happening...strange, though I do remember Win cutting his hand and doing some kind of slow stage dive near the front - perhaps I missed it if this was indeed the show you're talking about - in any event...at the ACL festival that year, my girlfriend spied the tall red head, Richard, and the short dummer, in the crowd during Walkmen and she asked for a photo and he wasn't very thrilled she had asked - it's not like he's a 'celebrity' or anything...oh well
Score = 3
Emo's, around January '05
Score = 0
I was there! Love the band. But Win seems like an asshole. There's this one video of them playing in an elevator, and his pomposity is mind-blowing.
Score = 10
Win did shove his wife with his guitar, and she may have been crying. But it was after the song Haiti and they were both acting. Obviously. Or so I thought...
Score = 1
I'm not gonna speak on this subject because I have never had any interaction with the Arcade Fire. Shit I just did speak about it. Ok, might as well. Yeah so I don't know these guys so I don't know if they treat people like shit or not, but accodring to Wayne they do so...
Score = -121
If you're going to say something, fucking say something.
Score = 26
the twice that I saw them they were awesome to the crowd (including inviting us all up on the stage during "Wake Up")
Are they actually dicks or are they just self-serious? People throw the pompous charge at U2, too, even though Edge is the "sweetest guy ever."
Score = 2
Good point. I'm not sure but this sounds like both. I could see Win being a prick or whatever to his crew and bandmates, but I'm not sure I would say he's a dick to the crowd. They tend to be pretty crowd friendly compared to most bands.
Wayne seems like a good guy, but on the other hand he also seems like the sort of dude I couldn't be friends with. If he tried to talk to me I'd probably be a bit distant and short. Maybe Win is like me.
Maybe we both just assume that Wayne does a lot of hard drugs and wants to talk about crazy shit that we don't wanna talk about!
Or maybe Arcade Fire are a bunch of dicks. Who knows? I would only argue that they seem to treat the fans pretty good, but at the end of the day I can't care.
John Lennon was a prick. Thom Yorke was a prick in the old days. Lots of great artists are pricks... thats part of what makes them more interesting than me.
Score = 0
John Lennon could, and would, sometimes make an ass of himself; this behavior didn't make him an asshole. It made him pretty much just like the rest of us: human. Your gross generalization completely diminishes and marginalizes the range of human behavior into George Bush-ian absolutes. People aren't one thing or another. Win Butler has probably acted like a total asshole on occasion, as has Wayne Coyne and the Edge and the rest of us. Keeps things interesting man.
Score = -2
Only a Sith deals in absolutes
Score = 0
Someone said something nice about U2!
Score = 53
does the inherent niceness of being a mormon cancel out the inherent niceness of being canadian?
Score = 27
well yeah, compared to Wayne Coyne pretty much everybody is a jerk on some level. i love how he's trying to 'out' them though - didn't he do the same thing w/ Beck a few years back after they toured with him? maybe this is Wayne's real passion - exposing overrated, pretentious rock stars for what they really are... nothing but a bunch of whiny d-bags
Score = 55
A couple years back there was an RS article about Arcade Fire. In it, the writer related a story of driving with Win somewhere, and Win getting a call from his manager, and asking the writer to get out of the car so he could speak to the manager in privacy. The writer ended up having to walk to wherever he was going.
Score = 38
yes...i remember this. i remember thinking...fucking yeah! win butler is awesome!
Score = -44
Awesome!! Enough said.
Score = 0
I woke up with Marnie Sterns "Steely" on my mind...
Score = -5
The Mayor of SXSW doesn't lie. But I still love Arcade Fire's music.
Score = 9
Every artist is always at some point called pompous or a 'prick' because people are jealous of their talent and/or success and want to be treated like their best friend, which of course doesn't happen.
Score = -97
wayne coyne isn't jealous of ANYONE'S talent.
Score = 55
Wayne is jealous of Win's talent? The Arcade Fire haven't approached anything even remotely as good as the Soft Bulletin.
Eat my dick.
Score = 23
Haha, that's fantastic. I tend to side with Wayne, but that's only because I'm taking his word for all this...
Score = 11
someone needs to burn wayne coyne's stuid head off with a laserbeam.
Score = -129
I totally agree with Wayne. While I never met anyone in the band, their publicity shots have always been dicks to me...
Score = 20
HAHAHAHAHAHA....mint
brendan b brown
wheatus.com
PS..Wayne is better anyway
Score = 0
Win and Regine live in my neighbourhood, I've met them on a couple occasions in local cafes and they are super nice people.
Score = 5
I bet they stole Wayne's basketball too!
Score = 50
That is some old school shit right thur
Score = 14
ahaha damn, i knew someone would have made that joke first.
Score = 2
The guy doesn't know what he's talking about, or he had a bad experience... or jealousy?
I've seen these guys quite a few times and I somehow have gotten backstage every time and hung out with the band. They're always very friendly and polite. Win went out of his way to get me a drink and my girlfriend a brownie. Very friendly normal guys - dont treat people like shit or act like they are the shit.
Score = -39
Win got yr girlfriends brownie.
Score = 74
∙ ♥∞
Score = -1
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne is jealous of Arcade Fire? plz.
Score = 39
what about that one time Win stole that kid's basketball?
anybody remember that? maybe that was all true.
Score = 11
I think maybe the Win and whomever else he's talking about in the band could possibly not be as extroverted as Wayne. I think people as outgoing as Wayne expect everyone else to be as much so sometimes. Wayne's a super nice guy, but perhaps there was a misunderstanding between them.
Score = 22
Well, they certainly don't treat their fans like shit. Just because they aren't running around hugging people all crazy style Wayne Coyne like doesn't mean they're assholes. I think they are just a little more serious/reserved.
Score = 9
Wayne Coyne calling someone cocky? Wow! He's the cockiest person in the world, walking aroudn Oklahoma like he's God's gift to everyone, even showing up at art events just to be seen. The dude's a dick. I can say that from personal experience, but I won't say anything on the Fire as I haven't met them...though I agree that they've yet to put together a perfect album.
Score = -33
I met Win last May. I gotta disagree with Coyne; he was the complete opposite of an asshole. Friendly, talkative, funny...everything I'd expect out of Wayne as well.
Score = 10
the idea of wayne coyne being jealous of anyone makes me LOL TO THE MAX.
anyone remember the soft bulletin?
humiliation neon bible comparatively.
Score = 18
I saw The Flaming Lips during their short set at Toronto's inaugural Virgin Festival a couple years back. Due to noise laws and the fact that The Dears and Muse took too much time on stage, The Flaming Lips only got through the first half hour of their set. Wayne helped his crew set everything up on stage, he didn't make a fuss when the band was forced to stop playing and then he stuck around and talked to fans afterwards while they took everything down. In the back of my mind, there is no doubt that Wayne Coyne is a nice guy and lives by a strict code in terms of interacting with his band, crew and audience.
The closest I've come to meeting the Arcade Fire is when an associate of mine had the producer of Funeral eat her bagel while she was hanging out with Basia Bulat.
Score = 28
Wayne critiquing their 'pompousness'...meanwhile the guy regularly performs in a giant bubble, walking across the crowd.
Personal opinon? The Arcade Fire always seem to love their fans everytime I've seen them...I can't deny that there seems to be a hint of jealousy that their grandiose stage performance and music has been more widely accepted than his own.
Score = -55
this may be the dumbest thing I've ever read.
Score = 22
Reasoning? Or does it suffice to give generalized comments with no evidence behind it these days? Seems to have worked for Wayne in this article.
Score = -2
People act like Wayne is "pompous" because of his big crowd surf bubble and that he doesn't play guitar... well:
A. The crowd loves the bubble
B. He has to be in a protective bubble so that he doesn't get "crowd aids". You see all that blood everywhere in the photo up top!?
C. He has said in interviews he is not the "musician" of the band, he is the "entertainer", he isn't good on guitar and he has said that himself.
D. He didn't say they were bad musicians... He just obviously had some bad experience with them (first impressions are everything), and he said some stuff on the phone that should maybe have been kept private. But hey he DOES do a lot of drugs.. (or DID, but i bet DOES).
Score = 1
Methinks Wayne needs to make sure he has enough oxygen in that giant hamster ball.
Score = -24
They're not assholes they are french canadians, Wayne just doesn't get it. [/sarcasm]
Score = 34
Honestly, I've had the rather lovely good fortune to encounter Arcade Fire on enough occasions to pick them over Coyne.
Luv ya and all Coyne, but those folks have never been less than Disney-character nice to me and mine.
Score = -6
You seem unaware of the reality of Disney and their characters.
Score = 46
I like Wayne but maybe his passion is not so much the outing of (other?) pretentious rock stars but the passion of grabbing a headline. To defend the more commercial sounding Soft Bulletin, he might dis Sonic Youth for not changing their sound enough over the years. Years later, he's dissing Dylan for changing his sound too much. And when the Lips's sound has settled into a rut, he dismisses experimentation in favor of putting a "great show". They're like the new Grateful Dead and I'm sure that's a compliment to Wayne. That Shade of Gray suits him well.
Score = 4
But, more to the point, Wayne-- why have you not made anything other than complete shit music going on several years now?
Score = -28
WTF Wayne?
i'm sorry... but i've had the great pleasure of meeting and hanging out with the members of Arcade Fire on various occasions over the last 5 years, and I will tell you straight up they are some of the nicest people i've ever met, "famous musicians" or not, they are just truly good people, every single one of them. I won't name names, but some of the members have reached out to me way more than I would have ever expected given my position, and for that, despite that I love their music, will always mean a lot to me.
Win might just be fairly misunderstood and people maybe don't get his dry sarcastic sense of humor, but that doesn't mean he's an asshole (takes one to know one anyway) either.
maybe i'm oversharing, but I've witnessed first hand how well they treat their crew at an end of tour celebration in Berkeley in '07. I can't say that i've experienced anything else like that with other bands in the past (gifts, accolades, huge cheers, great speeches about how much they truly mean to the band, etc.)
Now i've also had the pleasure of meeting Wayne on two different occasions, and yes he was SUPER super nice... but to the point that it almost seemed like a put on too. Just ask Beck about Wayne, you might get a different perspective than he puts forth to his fans publicly...
Score = -8
You run an Arcade Fire fan site. You expect us to take your opinion seriously?
Score = 40
You make anonymous posts on the internet, critiquing other people. Do you expect us to take you seriously or not consider you a cowardly douchebag?
Score = -35
Hilarious! I wasn't critiquing him, I was suggesting that his love of the band might preclude him from being a good judge of character, as in perhaps he's just too darn chuffed at hanging out with his idols to give us a fair take.
And I duly apologize for not using my real name, Captain, sir. What branch of the service are you in again?
Score = 40
uhm... they're not my idols. i don't look up to them, i don't hold them in some high regard.
they're just people who make music i happen to really like.
i've never hung out with them strictly as a fan, i've never asked for an autograph, i've never asked to get my photo taken with any of them, etc.
you don't know the extent of my relationship with the band, so don't assume.
i could have easily made my comment anonymous, but why bother?
Score = 2
and to clarify, i'm sorry if my initial comment came off as bragging, was not the intention. just wanted to state that i've met both of the artists in question and have had good experiences with both of them.
Score = 5
I saw AF in Columbia, MO at a small place called Mojo's right before Funeral really blew up. Before hand I asked Win and Richard for a photo, and they were totally cool about it. Although I'm pretty tall, those dudes are giants; and because we held the camera Win's head got cut off in the picture. No point to this story really, I just didn't see the pompous side that day I guess.
Score = -3
I have seen Arcade Fire shows twice and at both concerts the band was nothing but awesome with fans (one being their epic 2007 Coachella performance where Win did a full on Bono impersonation by jumping into the crowd during "Rebellion (Lies)") . After the final encore at the other show I saw, Win ran down the front of the audience barrier and ethusiastically traded high fives and fist pumps with everyone who could reach out. Both shows were among the most intimate concert experience of my life.
I have no idea what Wayne experienced, but as a fan, Arcade Fire have been nothing but awesome. They play their asses off every night and were genuinely great to their crowds.
Score = 12
No, sorry Coyne. This doesn't fly for me. Not one little bit.
Beck not current enough for you?
Score = -1
Wayne is a sweetheart. He's on a whole different planet, for sure, but a very nice guy. The only other time I've read about Wayne doing this was, yes, Beck. I'm inclined to believe him about this, too. It shows in something as simple as an interview. Being interviewed is not hard, and it's certainly not hard to let the interviewer know you don't want to answer a certain question and to do it politely. Arcade Fire seems uncomfortably antagonistic in every situation they're put in.
Jealousy is really a non-issue in this situation because there is no comparing The Flaming Lips to Arcade Fire. Not necessarily better or worse, but in terms of time, band members, albums, and impact... no argument.
2 cents.
Score = 14
I find myself believing Wayne for some reason. And if it's true that they're assholes, it's pretty sad and disheartening. Kudos to him for calling anyone out on their shit, because nothing annoys me more than artists who piss on the people who play some kind of role in their success. I've met quite a few artists and thankfully they all turned out to be cool and friendly people. Though I find it interesting he mentioned Justin Timberlake when he was younger because the guy is an asshole now.
Score = 7
Fans didn't make anyone famous. Famous people make the fans. If they weren't writing good song and putting on good shows they would have less fans. They don't owe the fans anything, the fans got albums and concerts in exchange for money.
Score = -2
i, for the record, never liked arcade fire and i never will
Score = 0
"I met Win last May. I gotta disagree with Coyne; he was the complete opposite of an asshole. Friendly, talkative, funny...everything I'd expect out of Wayne as well."
-- he was probably trying to fuck you.
Score = 15
I sucked Win off once. It was the best!
Score = 8
"I met Win last May. I gotta disagree with Coyne; he was the complete opposite of an asshole. Friendly, talkative, funny...everything I'd expect out of Wayne as well."
-- he was probably trying to fuck you.
Score = -1
from p4k:
UPDATE: Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett has entered the fray! He Tweeted (is that a word?): "Win might not be all hugs and rainbows and kittens, but neither is he drug culture, confetti, pot paraphernalia and bullshit." Ooohhhh
he deleted it though
Score = 26
The Lips disowned drugs a long time ago. And they're very public about it. They even show PSAs during their shows... and not strictly in the ironic sense.
Arcade Fire does still put on one of the few live shows to come close to rivaling a Lips extravaganza, so this is a very compelling would-be feud.
Score = 17
Ugh. Honestly, I'll think far less of Wayne Coyne after this than I will of Win Butler.
Score = 8
Goddamn, I love Owen Pallett.
Score = 5
i don't think it's fair to say the arcade fire are pricks, tim and richie are sweethearts. win and regine run the show and treat everyone else like garbage. i've known them for years and have worked with them at a number of shows and they just get worse and worse the more successful they become. it's been really ugly to watch.
i'm happy to see them get called out i just wish wayne had been a little more specific.
Score = 32
forget tim and richie. time and eric are who you need to be concerned with. and yes, this has EVERYTHING to do with the headline. deal with it.
you blew it.
Score = -3
I've never seen Arcade Fire smile.
I think they have adult braces.
Nyerds.
Score = 14
Hmmmm. Sounds like Wayne is feeling a bit irrelevant and decided to stir the pot. Already 61 comments on a pseudo catfight that doesn't even exist? Maybe Coyne should go make another salad dressing commercial.
Score = -33
What's left after what one isn't is what one is...
Score = -2
who cares what they think of eachother... this is dumb
Score = 13
Whatever. That's just, like, your opinion, man.
-The Dude
Score = 28
What I really want to know from Wayne is how much of a dick is Tweedy in real life?
Score = 9
i met Win at Coachella, and he was down to earth and really nice. It was the Napolean Dynamite look-alike jerkoff that was a real dickhead.
Score = -7
you mean his wife?
Score = 14
I've met Wayne and we actually discussed him meeting one of his heroes only to find that he was looking down his nose at everyone and treating everyone like they were beneath him. I do realise that it seems like Wayne is obsessed with calling out rock musicians who are really assholes, but I do think he is genuinely disappointed by these people and genuinely puzzled why they act that way - it's obvious he feels he's in a privileged position and they should too. It's easy to say Wayne comes across "too nice" so he must be fake, but the amount of time Wayne spends speaking to his fans, actually having conversations with them, waiting around for hours after shows etc, would be pretty tough to pull off all the time (and I've never heard a fan say they've met him and found him in a grumpy or pissy mood) if it wasn't genuinely felt, in my opinion. I always thought it was pretty punk rock of The Flaming Lips to help their crew set up on stage too, even when the crowd is there, rather than making the big "star" entrance at the start of the show.
Score = 24
This coming from the guy who FUCKING RIPPED OFF CAT STEVENS. STRAIGHT UP RIP SON!
LISTEN TO FATHER AND SON
LISTEN TO DO YOU REALIZE.
In fact its such a bad rip they split the royalties!
Ha you commie loving acid taking asshole ripping prick
Score = -57
Wayne said in an interview he ripped off Cat Stevens.
Score = 12
you mean fight test, idiot?
Score = 15
Its Fight Test thats a rip off of Cat Stevens, not Do you Realize??? Besides, the Flaming Lips were more than happy to give credit where credit was due.
Score = 19
It's a good thing AF won't be at SxSW then. Because Ian McCulloch would be shaking that lanky plagiarist upside down by his lanky-ass ankles for the amount of publishing he owes the Bunnymen.
Score = 0
You know what made me always think they seemed like douchebags (Arcade Fire)? On the BlogothequeTake Away Show when they tell that guy to get out of the elevator because they "need the space". I don't know if anyone saw that but I always thought, if I was the guy in the elevator I would have told them to fuck off.
Score = 24
try living on a bus for weeks/months at a time with the same 10 people with less than adequate sleep and being nice to total strangers everyday. this doesn't justify treating your crew or fans like shit, but its always easy to call out rock musicians and not really understand things from their side.
Score = -16
then choose another line of work asshole
Score = 23
Why? In exchange for money you get a show or cd. You were never promised friendship. Why does a celeb have to give you his personal time when hes on the clock? I don't talk to my clients in the streets.
Score = 0
You know what band doesn't treat everyone like shit? Animal Collective.
Score = 15
If anyone went to the Berkeley show in 2008, you might remember Win telling the story onstage about trying to play basketball in Oakland before the show. He went to a court and just wanted to shoot around by himself, but the guys were playing a full court game. He called the guys jerks because they said either play with us, or move. I remember thinking to myself, "Is this guy serious? Who does he think he is?" You CANNOT just walk onto a court (especially in Oakland) and "shoot around" when there is a game going on. Would you sit down at someones table at a restaurant and eat with them? Besides that, it was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Score = 29
If anyone went to the Berkeley show in 2008, you might remember Win telling the story onstage about trying to play basketball in Oakland before the show. He went to a court and just wanted to shoot around by himself, but the guys were playing a full court game. He called the guys jerks because they said either play with us, or move. I remember thinking to myself, "Is this guy serious? Who does he think he is?" You CANNOT just walk onto a court (especially in Oakland) and "shoot around" when there is a game going on. Would you sit down at someones table at a restaurant and eat with them? Besides that, it was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Score = -16
I can't stand people who post their comments twice
Score = 12
this is the sort of trash talk Rolling Stone spends all day licking their chops about.
stop feeding it to them!
Score = 7
Wayne waved to make backstage from a Flaming Lips show once. Win Butler's never waved at me backstage from a Flaming Lips show before. Who do you think I'm gonna side with?
Score = 14
There's a pun to be had in a feud between the Flaming Lips and the Arcade Fire. I just can't find it.
Score = 16
Hmm... Flame Wars? Unfriendly Fire?
Score = 2
Hot Fuss
Score = 0
Can't wait for the inevitable response from Win: "You want me to trash your fucking laser lights?!"
Score = 13
Reply to: castro at 03/04/09 4:35 PM
Everyone knows that to properly rip off others you should always pick world music and chop it up real good.
Score = 6
I'm sorry but Wayne Coyne is just plain wrong on this one. There's nothing more to it. He's entitled to his opinion ofcourse but this one is just simply not true. Nicest band I've ever met. Genuinely good hearted and nice people. I'm quite shocked to see this I have to say. It's sooo far off the mark.
Score = -3
I met Win Butler once and he couldn't have been more of a dIck if he was wearing a penis costume. He's an a$shat. He came a hair's breath from being arrested for throwing a tantrum in a public place.
Score = 10
Butler has always struck me as an asshole.
Been around Richard Reed Perry at Bell Orchestre events. He's unbelievably kind.
I could see win butler being one of the maniacal artists who is extremely self-involved with personal "vision"
Score = 7
I don't really care who is nice and who isn't. I do care who's music is better. There is no debate; Flaming Lips ≥ Arcade Fire.
Score = 8
greater than or equal to? sounds like there may be a debate.
Score = 1
I invented a genre to describe the Arcade Fire and their ilk: Exeter Rock. It's music made by rich, privileged kids for rich, privileged kids. Music made by unlined hands is barely music at all.
That, and they sound like John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, If JS&TBBB went to prep school.
Score = 1
Thank you for that- I've thought this for sometime. You just have to throw in a dash of Ian McCulloch style- yelping and there you go.
Oh, I vote Wayne.
Score = 1
Wayne is so off the mark about this, that it makes me wonder if this is some kind of weird joke! I've been lucky enough to meet Win and the rest of the band a few times, and they are THE NICEST, most humble, genuine people you could meet. I've seen first hand the most awesome acts of kindness to their fans, that goes way beyond what anyone could expect. Not only can their Magical music move me to tears, their acts of kindess can too. I wish their were more people like them in the world, it would be a much better place.
Score = -9
Wayne is so off the mark about this, that it makes me wonder if this is some kind of weird joke! I've been lucky enough to meet Win and the rest of the band a few times, and they are THE NICEST, most humble, genuine people you could meet. I've seen first hand the most awesome acts of kindness to their fans, that goes way beyond what anyone could expect. Not only can their Magical music move me to tears, their acts of kindess can too. I wish their were more people like them in the world, it would be a much better place.
Score = -21
"Wayne is so off the mark about this, that it makes me wonder if this is some kind of weird joke!"
It's a social experiment.
Score = 3
Who the fuck cares?
Score = -1
If all of you hang out with bands backstage so much what the hell are you doing posting comments on a blog?
Score = 7
to repeat what I just posted on facebook: 'Ha, I like their music, Arcade Fire, and wouldn't know if they are polite or pompous or not, but this is funny, the title especially of the post, Wayne Coyne tearing them a new asshole. I know they played during the Obama inauguration ceremonies under a banner saying "restoring America to..." something or other. Funny to have the Canadians working hard to restore us. Thanks guys!'
Score = -17
Win Butler is not Canadian.
Score = 4
hard as john, crazy as lil.
Score = 3
i read eight comments after this then it clicked
Score = 1
Is he seriously calling Richard Reed Parry an asshole? Really? I assume that's what he's doing by calling the entire band assholes.
That to me is a giveaway that he's at least exaggerating. That and the fact that he doesn't seem to specify how they "treated the audience like shit."
I don't know, I'm sure some people in the band could be dicks, but I feel like there's something wrong here by making a collective character judgment on 10 people after just "playing some shows with them."
Score = 6
I love FLIPS and Wayne is a top-notch showman and seems like a great guy, but I think it's a little douchey to call out an an entire band in a phone interview...with fuckin' Rolling Stone of all publications. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he makes some sort of apology after thinking about it for a little while. As for the Arcade Fire, I can't speak for how they treat their crew but the don't treat their audience like shit. They have, however, treated me to two of the best live shows I've ever seen.
Score = 10
Saw Wayne on a dark empty street well after one of their shows in Syracuse supporting Beck.
My friends and I were wasted...and acting like drunkin jerks.
Went up to him like all "Waaaynneeee."
And he gave me a hug and said, "What's your name dude?"
I would have been scared for my life if I was him.
Wayne is genuine dude that trusts in the goodness of humanity.
I guess.
And the Arcade Fire will always suck balls. Stupid theater music.
Score = 24
This is the man who played on an episode of 90210. Wayne Coyne doesn't seem give a rat's ass about what most people in bands care about.
Score = 1
I met wayne when i was 16 years old a few years ago. I was hanging out by the venue at about 11 am waiting for a friend to meet me there to get some food. Wayne saw me and came over where I was sitting. He started chatting with me for a good 30 minutes. It was just us. One of the nicest people i have ever met. He let me come inside the venue to wait and hang out. I even got to watch their sound check and everything. It was really incredible.
Score = 20
I have had the chance to hang out with the entire band (except for the hot violinist) for an extended period of time, and they were really some of the nicest band members I have ever met... and yes I have met plenty in my day.
Score = -2
rich, over-rated brats. wayne rules.
Score = -1
wayne is acting like a bitch. sure the flaming lips are great, sure arcade fire are great. i don't know, it's annoying when musicians make vague asshole comments.
does wayne also hate miles davis? even if arcade fire are dicks, there are so many musicians far better than win who are much bigger assholes.
Score = 1
It's really unfortunate when talented artists are awful people. It sort of puts a stain on them, sometimes it comes to a point where you can't really enjoy their music.
This actually the first time I read something like this about them. I hope it's a not a repeated offense. No one is perfect and we may behave in a not-so-nice way from time to time.
Score = 2
I'm going to give wayne the benefit of the doubt and just assume that he doesn't know that some members of Arcade Fire's families DIED recently, and that's probably why they were acting like dicks. But really, doesn't wayne know that their album was called FUNERAL??? have some respect for the recently departed!!!
Score = -16
WTF man? 'Funeral' came out almost four years ago. The statement made about their family members dying was also made around the same time.
Score = 8
Well Wayne just needs to give them time, four years or four months, whatever!!! I read Wayne's wikipedia entry and it doesn't mention him going to any funerals so he obviously doesn't understand. Sometimes I think I am the only one who understand AF.
Score = -1
lol
Score = 10
I've met Wayne and yep, nicest dude ever. I think he knows that he has to make a strong case before opening his mouth to the press on this crazy thing called the Internet, so he probably thought long and hard about the consequences and made the call. He's right though, and I'm speaking as a fan - most people I speak with have only negative things to say about the AF's personalities. Truly disappointing after loving Funeral so much and not being able to enjoy the album as sincerely as before. I give the guy credit for speaking up and (hopefully) humbling the band.
Score = 4
Now, now. Anyone that is surprised by this, or hasn't heard these allegations of pompous douchebaggery thrown Win's way before just hasn't been paying attention. Owen's feeble 'he's not kittens and rainbows' defense notwithstanding, there is a reason that AF - or let's face it, Win, because that's really who we're talking about here - has a wide reputation for being a jerk. These reps don't just 'happen'.
And yes, at the end of the day, that is what matters. Fine, exhilarating band. But Win? Not a kind fellow, by many accounts, not just Wayne Coyne.
And to the person who offered that U2 have dealt with the same accusations of pompousness over the years - not true. Bono, yes - as a performer and a pontificator. But in 29 years they have never had the smug, difficult rep as people that Win has won in just six years.
Score = 13
http://www.arcadefire.com/yope.html
response from win butler.
Score = 0
Persistent...
Score = -1
FALSE. i know everyone is going off they're personal experiences with arcade fire, so here's mine: I was at the FREE show they played last spring in cleveland for obama. they were cool as fuck. win came to line outside and shook peoples hands...he was modest during the set. and then they played another fucking round for all the people waiting outside who didn't make it into the first show! wayne coyne can take his W.A.N.D. and suck it.
Score = 3
Fuck Obama... You think they would be as "cool" if they were somewhere esle? It's all political. plus - Obama is a socialist (which isn't cool by the way (look it up))
Score = -47
As of 9:07 ET that's:
Wayne Coyne 47
Arcade Fire 42
Undecided/ Neutral 29
Score = 12
copy/paste?
Score = 1
Wayne win and they lose. I call them April babies cause they fools.
Score = 14
UPDATE: Through their publicist, the Arcade Fire has declined to comment.
Score = 0
Who cares???? I love the Flaming Lips and err on the side of believing what Wayne Coyne is saying is true, but do rock stars typically owe the audience anything more than performing good songs and putting out records? Traditionally, no; I don't think so.
Score = 3
The server on this site has been shotty, which is why people are posting twice. We didn't know if it went through or not.
Score = 1
Interesting how almost every comment that praises the members of Arcade Fire as nice people is getting scored down. You hipsters just can't believe that anyone could have a better, more praise-worthy experience with Arcade Fire than Wayne Coyne did, can you?
This thread is a douchepit.
Score = -6
http://thevoiceforschoolchoice.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/pot-and-kettle1.jpg
Score = 2
I noticed that too.
Score = 0
This is just ridiculous.
God, I'll never look at Wayne Coyne the same way ever again. What a bitch.
Win's response was more diplomatic than was deserved, IMHO.
Score = 1
Wow, Wayne is really on a snarky streak....
From Daily Star:
“I’ve never got Arctic Monkeys - they seem too much like a British thing to me. They’re like Oasis whereby Americans can’t really relate to them. Lots of British people like it but not for me, and I don’t like Razorlight or Duffy much either.”
Possibly realizing he came off as an anti-Britite, Coyne clarified his statement by saying some of his best friends are British: “I prefer Radiohead - they deserve to win a Grammy. And I’m still a fan of Amy Winehouse but hope she doesn’t become too much of a drug addict.”
Granted, this is from this past December, but preach on brother Wayne! who else is a prick?
Score = 7
Always thought about Wayne as nice guy. but hey, no nice guy would talk shit about someone else.
Score = 4
Honestly, I hope this never ends. I'm having such a good time reading all these comments. NEVER CHANGE, my people, never change.
Score = 13
Doesn't anyone feel obligated to say, "But Grizzly Bear treats people even less like assholes than Animal Collective"?
Score = 7
I think if anyone's going to get top marks for being cool as fuck on and off the stage it's going to be Grizzly Bear.
Score = 4
wait- i saw Flaming Lips at Sasquatch and Wayne was the biggest dick ever!
Score = -5
Wow, who invited all the 12 year old girls to stereogum?
Score = 6
So I feel like I must chime in about all this as I'm probably the most qualified person in North America to post on this thread - but Win Butler is my best friend in the whole world and he would never do anything mean to anyone. one time we were out at a show and he punched me in the stomach so hard my glasses fell off, but after wards he bought me a shot and apologized and started crying his eyes out - then he told me he punched it because he was just so frustrated about how awful his fans were compared to other bands fans... then we went for a walk in a woodland area and Wayne Coyne was there trying to communicate with squirrels but the squirrels were angry at him because he didn't have anything to give them - so Win went up to them (the squirrels) and gave them some seeds that he had in his coat pockets and the squirrels got up on his shoulders and laughed - Wayne got down on his hands and knees and begged Win to teach him how to commune with mother earth and i have a feeling that this is how this whole mess started....
Score = 15
I've only seen the arcade fire play once, but they were very cool to the crowd. and this was at radio city music hall, they were encouraging everyone to come forward and dance and pleading with the security to let people come forward. and this was a sold-out stuffed full packed as could be crowd at a really prestigious venue, they didn't have to bother, you know? I think people just have different routines, and they see someone act in a way that's not part of their own routine and they just make assumptions. a performer may have a rapport with their associates and crew that someone else just wouldn't understand by glancing at it here and there.
Score = 0
Arcade Fire are just so goddamn pretentious. Shut up, my God, the music is insufferably overblown. OH MY GOD MY PAIN AND SUFFERING AHHHHHH MY GRANDMOTHER DIED ITS THE END OF THE WORLD
Given that the Soft Bulletin is God, Wayne Coyne's opinion counts more, and is in line with what I expect from Win Butler, AKA Jesus in his own mind.
Score = -6
In the future, if you;d like people to take you seriously try the following.
1. Don't comment on music you havent heard.
2. If you have HEARD it you should also try to listen to it.
3. Instead of moving on to the next hot thing spend some time with it. I know you downloaded it and music is disposable, but if you want to be listened to... yeah.
In closing, its obvious you didnt pay much attention to the actual content of Funeral. Maybe you just saw the title or something? Heard some strings? Either way, your not doing yourself any favors.
Score = -1
Way to fail, sir.
1. I've heard the Arcade Fire.
2. I've "listened" to the Arcade Fire.
3. I BOUGHT FUNERAL! I'm almost gleeful at the fact that ALL of your assumptions are false.
I paid attention. I actually like "Crown of Love", and "Neighborhood #2". But compared with the rapturous response they've received, they flat-out suck. Purely musically, what I hear is thin, boring barely-songs dressed up in 16 tons of accoutrements. Usually the most boring chords and melodies, and NEVER any interesting harmony. It's almost a sacrilege to play the things they do on enormous pipe organs, it's like, this two chord piece of nothing DOES NOT WARRANT ALL THIS INSTRUMENTATION!!
The point is this: to pale, insufferable internet hipsters, a pale, constantly weeping Canadian ghost is the highest form of artistic expression. For me, I enjoyed a few listens and didn't want to hear it again. For everyone else, it's so overblown and self-important as to be ridiculous.
Score = 1
o rly? this is all from rolling stone's interwebz page? i wasn't aware they were still writing about music. are they still a magazine? i can't find it on newsstands, it's as if it's been shrinking or something.
Score = 1
The comments about "Oh, *insert name here* is RIGHT because their music IS GOD!" are null and void, because everyone has different music tastes, whatever, that doesn't matter in relation to this argument.
It's like beatlebum said. So many people are banging on about how Wayne is the nicest guy ever. But if you publicly slag off ten people who you've met once before in your life, then are you really a nice guy? No. If you talk down about someone else; regardless of who that person is, regardless of who you are and regardless of how well you know them, then I'm not going to like you very much. I'll think that you're a bitch.
So Wayne, I think you'll find it is you, Sir, who is the arsehole. One thing which can be said for Win Butler: he has never pulled anything like this petty grapple for publicity. Even if you hate the guy, you’ve got to give him that.
Score = 2
Win Butler would never in a million years pull this crap about Coyne, no.
That's all I need to know.
Score = -1
I love that one of the only commentor's here with any actual first hand bad experiences of Win is the basketball guy.
It's a small, small internet.
Score = 2
I love both these bands so this makes me really sad. I grew up w/ Winn from Arcade Fire, he was my sister's best friend. When he was younger he was always a really sweet kid and not pompous in the least. I can't believe he would have changed that much since the last time we saw him like 3 years ago. Honestly, I just hope this is a misunderstanding.
Score = 2
seems believable to me . . . I heard that Win eats Hatians
Score = 10
never talk with the best guy ever
Score = 0
yeah Win does eat Haitians, good knowledge.
Score = 2
Jesus, has every Arcade Fire fan "personally met" or "had the chance to hang out with" the band?
Score = 6
Quite a few of us, yeah.
Which is probably part of the reason we're so surprised to learn how shit we've been treated...
Score = 3
Fuck Wayne Coyne.
I saw both The Arcade Fire and The Flaming Lips on different occasions at The Hollywood Bowl. And y'know what, Wayne Coyne treated his audience like shit. He was way more interested in the audience being alive enough for the DVD they were filming and he kept demanding that we sing along or cheer louder. If they played better, we would have. He came across like a real ass - totally full of himself and selfish.
Score = -15
Wayne always does this. Usually says something along the lines "Come on, you motherfuckers! All we have is now!" I only know this after seeing them a few times. It's his thing.
Score = 4
I know I was super pissed when Win shook my hand and signed my ticket and told me jokes, or when Sarah posted recipes for me to enjoy, or when Jeremy personally responded to a drunken poem I sent the band, or when Richard Reed handed me their setlist, or when Will suggested random and delightful Prague Rock. Please stop being an ass hat.
Score = 2
this has all turned into a who's better-arcade fire-or-flaming lips deal and if you want to go there arcade fire is an overrated immature band verses the flaming lips, one of the major success stories of what was once indie rock of the 90's
Score = -3
EVERYONE IS WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING.
Score = 15
I am kind of surprised by how adamantly Stereogum readers seem to be pro FLips
Score = 14
Wayne's right. Don't believe me? Just ask the trail of house sound guys they left in their wake on their first few Canada tours. Holy shit. Once saw them soundcheck for *hours* before *reaming* the house guy. They also insulted me and my crew loudly and within earshot too (and not just on our work, but on the way we looked and talked, like, screw you, you upper class shits, sorry if I'm not "hip"). Worst. Band. To. Work. With. Ever. Fucking Princesses think they're Geniuses/Music Angels from Heaven. I've worked with much bigger bands and have always been treated with respect (not AF though)
Score = 13
Oh, and they don't lift a finger either. Ask them a question and they roll their eyes, don't say anything and you get bitched out for putting something in the wrong place. GAH - years later and I'm still so fucking pissed about how shitty they were. I've never listened to the Flaming Lips, but I'm sure as hell going to start.
Score = 9
So playing some kind of "musican/asshole detective" is what maintains your nicest-guy-ever" stats?
In the words of the Virgin Mary: "Come again"
Score = -4
I don't know Arcade Fire, but I know Wayne stopped to talk to me in a driving rain and shrugged off his own handlers to take some time to sign their Fearless Freaks DVD. Pretty cool in my book.
Score = 4
Wayne and win are two of my biggest heros and influences, how weird that now they are in a feud now. Both bands are really one of the same. The big elaborate, instrumental arrangements, the sounding amazing on stage, but no matter how serious the song is, they still have fun. I saw Arcade fire at Randall's island and it was the greatest thing I have ever seen. Win shook my hand before the show started. How is that not nice? In fact, it was the complete opposite. But Wayne has never been a dick, right? And he never disses anybody. And I have yet to see the lips. I am so confused of what is going on, and I hope they get over their differences and play a show together. How great would that be? Arcade fire playing with anybody is great.
Also, on win's blog, it seamed that he was a big flaming lips fan, and he didn't trash wayne back. Doesn't sound like a dick to me.
Score = 0
i'm sorry but arcade fire are just not even in the same ballpark as the flaming lips Look into your souls you know this to be true
Score = 4
I too was at that Flaming Lips show at the Hollywood Bowl when he annoyingly ranted on and on "Come on everyone stand up and make some noise for the dvd..." it was absolutely pathetic and lame. He sucks and needs to shut his mouth.
Score = 1
This band should have came/ went years ago! Fuck me we are desperate . . . this band is finished -
Score = -6
Win, Régine , and Will all came out and mingled with the crowd after their Greensboro, NC Obama rally performance last year and they all seemed really, really nice. For what that's worth.
Score = 0
Wayne - 1
Win - 0
I'm just saying.
Score = -2
The Edge?? You must not be that cool Wayne cause you weren't chillin with Bono.
Score = -4
This is because Montrealers are assholes. I know this because I am one. Read: http://thetragicallyunhip.com/2008/08/01/the-great-hipster-exodus/
Score = 1
Let me just say, I love Wayne with all my heart.
But by constantly pointing out other artists' flaws he has shown us his own--being a nitpicking Nitty Nitpicker! Beck & Arcade Fire, prententious? Nooooo, say it isn't so!. Cmon' now...
Also, IMPORTANT FACT: Wayne is not one to be speaking on integrity. He doesn't even play his guitar at live shows. Just watch the UFO's at the Zoo concert DVD. He's just fake strumming as a back track plays over the PA. I found that to be super lame.
And SECONDLY, the melody and chord progression of "Do You Realize?" were ripped from John Lennon's "Mind Games." I rest my case. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone, Mr. Coyne.
Score = 4
The emphatic defense of the Flaming Lips is mystifying to me as well. This band is simply awful. Everyone makes a big deal about their "showmanship," AKA a bunch of stupid-ass bullshit and dumb costumes onstage which barely distracts from Coyne's terrible tone-deaf voice, while two other random dudes noodle around over a bunch of samples and piped-in muzak. While I am not a huge fan of AF, I will defer to Mr. Butler any day over this talentless douchebag.
Score = 0
The emphatic defense of the Flaming Lips is mystifying to me as well. This band is simply awful. Everyone makes a big deal about their "showmanship," AKA a bunch of stupid-ass bullshit and dumb costumes onstage which barely distracts from Coyne's terrible tone-deaf voice, while two other random dudes noodle around over a bunch of samples and piped-in muzak. While I am not a huge fan of AF, I will defer to Mr. Butler any day over this talentless douchebag.
Score = -5
Oops, I meant "which barely distract," my high school English teacher would be appalled, even if it is just a message board.
PS - That big stupid rodent ball that Flaming Lips have onstage also sucks.
Score = -5
Hm. They were nice when I met them. I asked Win for a hug, and he gave me one. Regine did give me a nasty look though...
Score = 0
what is there to be gained from dissing other artists publicly?
don't get it.
also wish i didn't like reading about it so much.
Score = 4
a most commented article in Stereogum
Score = 1
Team Coyne.
Score = 0
I thought winning was good thing! Why every body argue about win?
Score = -2
Susan's comments about treating local crew are SPOT ON.
Before they were super-duper big, they played my venue. I recall like a half-dozen phone calls arranging a much-earlier than necessary load-in/sound-check time. Come day of show -- the band shows up four hours late, without so much as a phone call to tell us. Ya know, if your cell-phone worked well enough to advance the show, it should work well enough to make a courtesy call to the venue to let everyone know you're going to be late.
Oh, yeah, so when they arrived, they demanded a soundcheck. But we'd already opened doors, so they looked like complete fools as they took their dear sweet time setting up and soundchecking.
Score = 0
I can veriify, from personal experience, that Wayne (and indeed all the Lips) are sweethearts. Very, very nice people. I can't see Wayne going out of his way to comment on someone's assholism unless he bore witness to some blatant assholism...
That said, everybody's an asshole to somebody sometime. Doesn't mean they're assholes, generally speaking.
Score = 1
I am friends with Wayne's wife, Michelle, and have hung out with Wayne several times. From what I know of him, he is all about his music and his fans. I have never heard him talk bad about anyone. Will he make you think about what you say? Yes! He's all about keeping it real? Yes! It's really a shame because Arcade Fire has such great music. I'm a female drummer and was really disappointed when I met Stewart Copeland, he was soo egotistical and I was shocked. As a matter of fact, I had a conversation with someone else tonight who told me Stewart was a total dick to him too. It's unfortunate because he is one of my favorite drummers but, hey, it's life! Sometimes people get away with things because other people kiss their ass, that's just my opinion though...not to get all psychoanalytical. I appreciate Stewart for his amazing dynamics but not as a person. Wayne and the Lips are all about making their shows better for their fans and getting to know them. Anytime a fan approaches him, you would think they were family...that's just who he is and what he's about. I just think he expects the same ethics for other bands too.
Score = -3
"I have never heard him talk bad about anyone."
Apparently, he only does that in public.
Score = 0
i agree with claims that arcade fire has yet to put out a great Album. is it just me or did anyone else think Neon Bible was the most boring piece of shit ever? i listened to it twice and can't remember a single song from it. i don't even know what i did with my copy of it...
Score = -2
i love the flaming lips and i love arcade fire.
music is music is music is music.
and sometimes,good music is conceited jerks. so what?
good music makes my ears happy.
Score = 0
Woah...
Heavy.
Score = 0
I have no idea if Arcade Fire are assholes, but I take issue with Coyne's statement that they have "great tunes." They don't. They have overblown, whiny, pretentious tunes that suck harder than the most powerful Hoover. Arcade Fire suck 10,000 pounds of ass. Period.
Score = -5
Does it matter whether or not they're assholes as long you like their music? It's not like they're living with you.
Score = 0
I think Win and his brother are from Texas, Arizona or similar and not Canadian in any cultural sense.. ie their sense of politeness. I don't think many Canadians would make a person get out of their car and walk so they could have a private conversation, although I understand this would not be out of character for a Texan..... on the other band members not being very friendly, it may be more awkwardness on their part, some Canadians just don't know what to do when a super friendly stranger approaches them, it just doesn't happen in Canada.
Score = 0
I'll say one thing, that's the pot calling the kettle black coming from this man. Growing up in Oklahoma, I had plenty of experiemces with "Wayne's Army" and his whole "I'm the Big Fish in the Little Pond" attitude. Why did Jonathan leave the band? Wayne's an asshole. Why did Ronald leave the band? Wayn'es an asshole. Fuck, when Michael was trying to start his own project w' some friends of mine he threatened to fire frie him. Why? Because he's an asshole. What else does that make him? A fucking hypocrite.
Score = 1
Add to the Exeter Rock genre Old Crow Medicine Show. Also have to add John Forte. Pretty good company. But Arcade Fire is a Montreal Band, made for Montreal types with unlined hands. Many of the Exeter folks are on financial aid, but they'll all probably have kids that you could level your criticism at!
Score = 0
Hey, Exeter Rock includes John Forte and Old Crowe Medicine Show and Susie Suh. Check 'em out, homes!
Score = 0