As if you needed any further proof that dynamic garage duo The Black Keys have hit the big time, what with their upcoming ‘bromance comedy’ documentary and Australian tour dates selling out faster than you can sing “Lonely Boy”, they’ve now come out verbally swinging against a whole bunch of acts as well as launching a legal attack on Pizza Hut and Home Brand.
The duo already launched an offensive against Nickelback earlier this year, with drummer Patrick Carney blaming the Canadians for rock n roll’s slow death, calling them “watered-down, post-grunge crap, horrendous shit” in the pages of Rolling Stone. He later sought to clarify his comments, saying there ‘might be’ worse bands out there than Nickelback.
As FasterLouder points out, it looks like he might have to clarify his criticisms again sometime soon, having returned to Rolling Stone for an interview where the drummer slams veteran rockers Van Halen.
Prompted by a question concerning the upcoming Lollapalooza that’s featuring the recently reformed Black Sabbath on its bill. Carney responded, “I have no interest in seeing bands with partial lineups.”
Having caught Van Halen on their recent tour, including a crowd-agitating David Lee Roth, Carney wondered “what the fuck is the point?” and remarking that he did not enjoy the show at all. Particularly in reference to the replacement of original bass player, Michael Anthony, with guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang.
“I’m not a very big Van Halen fan but it was such a fucking bummer,” Carney says, “That’s fucking retarded. If someone is able to be in a band for 30 years and then people are okay with replacing him with a 17-year-old, they’re obviously motherfucking assholes, right?”
When asked if he’d be checking out any dance acts during America’s summer festival season, the Black Keys’ sticksman turned his ire to dance-shufflers LMFAO, “I don’t know who listens to that kind of music… I don’t understand it.”
Meanwhile, in another case of bands being ripped off for commercials (see cribbing of Beach House for feel-good Volkswagen ad and a yoghurt company thieving John Butler Trio‘s sound), the pair are suing Pizza Hut for using “significant portions” of their single “Gold On The Ceiling” for the restaurant chain’s advert for Cheesy Bites Pizza.
American hardware store Home Depot are also being charged by the band for advertising power tools with the unauthorised use of “Lonely Boy”. Both companies were sent formal requests from The Black Keys to cease airing their commercials before they would pursue legal action.
In less-aggravating news, fans may even expect their upcoming Australian Tour to feature some new material, as the aforementioned Rolling Stone interview confirms that Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are back in the studio. “We’re going back in the studio in July,” revealed Carney, “we’ll have a couple weeks to start the next album then.”
He couldn’t confirm any further details or a release date, but he was ‘hopeful’ they could aim for a 2013 release date; adding that “after July, we’ll be able to know how long it’ll take.”
You can have a watch/listen to the Pizza Hut commercial and its incriminating soundtrack below:
