The rift began during White's 2013 divorce from Karen Elson, when leaked emails revealed White's impression of Dan Auerbach as an "asshole" who ripped off his sound. Patrick Carney jumped in to defend his Black Keys bandmate, but failed to stop White from sounding off about the derivative nature of their music.
Despite the war of words, Carney and White never had it out face to face — until White allegedly tried to fight the drummer at a bar in New York City Last night. Carney explained via Twitter that it was his first time meeting White, who seemed "mad" and "tried to fight me."
He refers to White as "a 40 year old bully" trying to fight a "35 year old nerd," noting that "the bully assholes who made me feel like nothing" were the reason he began playing music in the first place.
The Twitter rant ended with a couple of choice zingers, with Carney stating: 'It might get loud but it might also get really really sad and pathetic," before signing off with "Jack white is basically Billy Corgan's dumb ass zero t-shirt in human form."
See the full string of tweets below.
I've never met jack white.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
Until last night.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
He came to a bar in Nyc I go to a lot with a few friends and tried to fight me.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
I don't fight and don't get fighting but he was mad!!!
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
He is why I play music. The bully assholes who made me feel like nothing. Music was a private non competitive thing.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
Not sure what he's unhappy with cuz I just liked Zeppelin a lot and wanted to play guitar. Cut my pinky off and ended up being a drummer
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
Not the best drummer but a passionate one. But any way jack white. A 40 year old bully tried to fight the 35 year old nerd.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
It might get loud but it might also get really really sad and pathetic.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
Jack white is basically billy corgan's dumb ass zero t-shirt in human form.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 14, 2015
UPDATE (9/14, 10:00 a.m.): White has issued a statement to Pitchfork in response to Carney's allegations. "Nobody tried to fight you, Patrick," he said. "Nobody touched you or 'bullied' you. You were asked a question you couldn't answer so you walked away. So quit whining to the Internet and speak face to face like a human being. End of story."
UPDATE (9/14, 11:30 a.m.): Third Man Records has issued a tweet offering up a quote from White that reads: "From one musician, to another, you have my respect Patrick Carney."
"From one musician to another, you have my respect Patrick Carney." -Jack White
— Third Man Records (@thirdmanrecords) September 14, 2015