Billy Childish has responded to Jack White's recent claims that Childish is a plagiarist. White recently posted a message on the White Stripes official website which read: "As for Billy Childish, Meg and I really feel sorry for you. It must be lonely sitting in all of that garage rock bitterness Billy. You know children, when you take someone else's music and put your own lytics on top of it, it's still called plagiarism. Something Mister Childish hasn't learned yet....By the way Billy, we didn't have to have you play with us, and we didn't have to mention you in interviews, we were just being polite in a foreign land. But you're welcome anyways. The bitter garage rocker..."
Childish has now written an open letter to White, saying: "Though I have undoubtedly angered Jack White, I think it's a bit nasty of him to accuse me of plagiarism merely because his former admiration of my work was not reciprocated. It all smacks of jealousy to me. I have a bigger collection of hats, a better moustache, a more blistering guitar sound and a fully developed sense of humour. The only thing I can't understand is why I'm not rich. Yours sincerely, Billy Childish."
He then adds: "P.S. I always stay well within the music industries recommended guidelines of never plagiarising more than 50% of my material. But no matter who my influences may be, I would never stoop so low as to rip off Led Zeppelin. P.P.S I hope I've gone and offended Led Zeppelin now."
The spat was apparently sparked by Childish's criticism of the White Stripes' sound in an interview with American GQ: "I can't listen to that stuff. They don't have a good sound...Jack's half into the sound and music, but then he wants to be a pop star as well, so you've got a big problem."