Read Ben Gibbard and Mark Kozelek's emails about offending audiences

Musician Mark Kozelek has been in the music news a lot recently, but not exactly for his music: Kozelek was performing with his band Sun Kil Moon at a festival when he began to notice sound from War on Drugs’ nearby set bleeding into his own, so he responded by aiming some harsh words toward the band. This led to a “feud” that climaxed with Kozelek recording a song titled “War on Drugs: Suck My Cock.”

In a new interview with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, though, Kozelek vaguely addresses the incidents. “I think people choose to be offended by things as a way of bonding, as a hobby,” Kozelek said. “They embed some piece of information into their brain without thinking it through, because it’s easier. ‘Mark Kozelek is an asshole.'”

Kozelek and Gibbard’s interview for The Thread took place entirely over email and features thoughts on their favorite cities, what a typical day is like, and how serious audiences can be. Apparently Kozelek isn’t the only one who has ruffled some feathers with his onstage banter: Gibbard ranted about how he didn’t like the green Red Sox hats while he was playing a show in Boston, and it didn’t go over so well.

“People were not amused,” Gibbard said. “In fact, the booing was so vitriolic, I thought the show might be over. Thankfully I was able to wiggle out of it, backpedal, and get on with the song. Awkwardly, of course.”

Read the whole interview over at The Thread.