Idles have responded to Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson's accusation that they are "appropriating a working class voice".
Speaking to The Guardian last month, Williamson said that he "felt a bit cheated" when he discovered that Idles were "not working class". He added: "I also became jaded by this idea that we were a band that was campaigning for social justice, when we're not, we're just talking about what's around us. Music can't solve political problems. And I think their take on it is cliched, patronising, insulting and mediocre. And that's why I have a problem with them".
Fat White Family then chipped in, calling Idles "self-neutering middle class boobs telling us to be nice to immigrants" - although they also then laid into Sleaford Mods a bit for balance.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Idles guitarist Mark Bowen and frontman Joe Talbot have responded.
"If you're angry about inequality, you have to preach equality as an alternative rather than go, 'fuck you, you're wrong'", says Bowen. "Because you're not going to get anywhere with that. The fact that we're still talking about the same stuff punks were dealing with in the 1970s means that 'fuck you' thing didn't work".
"There's no authenticity in just being a prick to everyone", adds Talbot.