I always look forward to reading interviews with Wayne Coyne. My most recent finding was by no means a let down. Its source, Rolling Stone’s Blog.

Whenever I read about Coyne, hear him in radio interviews or simply listen to his music, it candidly heightens my appreciation for the rock world. I have read numerous accounts that the frontman for a little band called THE FLAMING LIPS is simply a delight to engage in coversation. This excerpt basically sums it up. Now, his tone is not particularly light-hearted in his statements, but Coyne is not asking for much. When you are an acclaimed rock star and you have all the money and all the chicks, is it too much to ask to just be a decent person? This is not the first time that I have heard such statements bearing upon Arcade Fire and their agro-bombastic attitude towards their fans, but with their own crew? Come on.

(From Rolling Stone interview with Coyne) “I’m a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness,” says Coyne. “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.’ He continues, “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.”

Would it be so hard for a band with so much talent and such a successful musical career ahead to slap a few hi-fives or have some beers with their roadies? As far as being a musician goes, that’s probably the only thing I would do really well. Coming from someone who has toured with them and seen their interactions on many occasions, I have to believe Coyne’s comments are all but slander among musicians. On a Coyne level of thought, Win Butler and the rest of Arcade Fire need not let their subjective actions control their conscious thoughts, enthusiasm for life will defeat existential fear.

Where has the showmanship gone? David Bowie would never dis a fan.

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The Flaming Lips – Free Radicals

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The Flaming Lips – Enthusiasm For Life Defeats Existential Fear

For Win Butler’s Response (ewww the gossip)