Flaming Lips vs. Ashcroft

06/28/2006 2:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Dotmusic

The Flaming Lips have accused Richard Ashcroft of being "a pompous dick," in a blistering attack on the former Verve star.

In a new interview, Wayne Coyne suggests Ashcroft recently pulled out of an appearance on Top Of The Pops because he "sensed a punch-up backstage" with his band.

Coyne claims "a lot of people would have jumped in and helped" had he come to blows with Ashcroft, who he says is a "worthless twat."

The Flaming Lips singer told the British music paper NME this week: "People I know who've run into him recently say that he's kinder than he used to be, but from my own experience, yes, he is a pompous dick. I don't really believe in karma, but he does go out of his way sometimes to act as if he's the only person on the planet who matters."

Wayne continued: "And I love some of his songs! That's the power of music--great songs can be made by such a worthless twat."

Richard Ashcroft was recently arrested and charged by police with disorderly behavior after bursting into a youth club in Wiltshire and demanding he be allowed to help the children.