If you were making such bets at the outset of 2014, you could have gotten some seriously long odds on a wager that Sun Kil Moon and War On Drugs would have wound up embroiled in the year’s biggest beef (non-Morrissey division). And good for you, if you did make that bet, because you are gonna win big! First, SKM’s Mark Kozelek threw some shade at WOD at Ottawa Folk Fest — to which WOD’s Adam Granduciel replied via Twitter — then, Koz followed up with some clarification. And now, he’s coming after us! (And the War On Drugs, again.) In a post on SKM’s website, Kozelek wrote: “To Pitchfork, Stereogum, and anyone reading this: I did not apologize to ‘War On Drugs.’ I gave them an explanation of the events that lead to my comments. I do not, and will not, apologize for stage banter. I was just letting WOD know that it wasn’t personal.”

We didn’t even say he apologized! Tom called it a “slightly conciliatory non-apology,” which is by definition not the same as an apology. Then, Koz said to WOD: “Due to all of the fuss, I checked out your live track on Pitchfork, and I called it right. You sound like Don Henley meets John Cougar meets Dire Straits meets “Born In The USA” era Bruce Springsteen. It’s not a criticism, its an observation.” Please also note: In our Premature Evaluation of WOD’s great new Lost In The Dream, Tom said the album included sonic touchstones such as “Don Henley, Sting, Dire Straits, Born In The U.S.A.-era Springsteen, ’80s-edition Bob Dylan, Richard Marx,” and others. Finally, Kozelek challenged War On Drugs “to let me join them onstage and play a hilarious song I’ve written called: “War On Drugs: Suck My Cock/Sun Kil Moon: Go Fuck Yourself” at the Fillmore, October 6th, provided they let me handle the beer commercial lead guitar.” I for one hope they do that, because it would be great. Anyway, here’s the new Koz screed in full:

I DID NOT APOLOGIZE TO WAR ON DRUGS AND I CHALLENGE THEM TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR OCTOBER 6TH AT THE FILLMORE

To Pitchfork, Stereogum, and anyone reading this: I did not apologize to “War On Drugs.” I gave them an explanation of the events that lead to my comments. I do not, and will not, apologize for stage banter. I was just letting WOD know that it wasn’t personal.

There is an epidemic of people being ‘offended’ by things as some kind of hobby. Anyone offended by the “H” word needs to be glad their country isn’t being invaded my missiles. Rock-A-Billy is still a genre of music so spare me your whining about “Hillbilly” being offensive.

War On Drugs. Due to all of the fuss, I checked out your live track on Pitchfork, and I called it right. You sound like Don Henley meets John Cougar meets Dire Sraits meets “Born In The USA” era Bruce Springsteen. It’s not a criticism, its an observation.

I challenge War On Drugs to let me join them onstage and play a hilarious song I’ve written called: “War On Drugs: Suck My Cock/Sun Kil Moon: Go Fuck Yourself” at the Fillmore, October 6th, provided they let me handle the beer commercial lead guitar.

I don’t have Twitter or Facebook ( I make albums) so if you’re interested in having a laugh with me onstage, contact my publicist Robert Vickers.

-Mark Kozelek