This is a little like seeing the hairy hand of Jim Henson peek out from Kermit's torso. GUYS, YOU'RE KILLING THE ILLUSION. Well it's been reported elsewhere but I love these guys (on paper) so here it is in all it's ugly glory.

Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips has dissed Arcade Fire in a Rolling Stone interview. Well, interview is maybe the wrong word, more of an off the cuff "phone call" with a "buddy" of Rolling Stone, according to the original post. Maybe Coyne thought he was off the record. Which might explain why he laid into everyone's favourite Canadians so vehemently.

As he told Rolling Stone "colleague", Andy Greene:

"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."

Pitchfork followed it up by adding that Arcade Fire collaborator Owen Pallet tweeted soon after saying "Win might not be all hugs and rainbows and kittens, but neither is he drug culture, confetti, pot paraphernalia and bullshit." Which was - as these things usually go - removed soon after.

Guess Flaming Lips aren't going to be playing with Arcade Fire anytime soon then. And wonder what Barry Obama would have to say after the "pricks" played his inauguration ball?

UPDATE: And Arcade Fire respond.