Black Keys "regret" inducting Steve Miller..."the most unpleasant part was being around him"

[Miles Archer]

Black Keys: We Regret Inducting Steve Miller After Rock Hall Insults
"He said, 'The whole process was unpleasant,'" Dan Auerbach says. "And for Pat and I, the most unpleasant part was being around him"
By Jason Newman April 13, 2016

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/black-keys-we-regret-inducting-steve-miller-after-rock-hall-insults-20160413

Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach has had multiple "sleepless nights" since inducting Steve Miller into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last Friday. Miller has become the unlikely focal point of the ceremony after calling the music industry "fuckin' gangsters and crooks" and lobbing verbal grenades at his record label rep ("I wanted to pull him by his necktie and kick him in the nuts&quot and the Hall of Fame itself ("Everybody is kind of a dick and an asshole.&quot

What do you think about what's happened the past four days?
Um, well, I guess Pat and I definitely... [Pauses] I guess we felt, I don't know, we read a lot of things and we got a really uncomfortable feeling when we first met Steve. He had no idea who we were. No idea. The first thing he told us was, "I can't wait to get out of here." He knew that we signed up to do this speech for him. And he made no effort to even [laughs uncomfortably] — he didn't even figure out who we were. I don't live in New York City. This is like three days out of my life flying from Nashville and leaving my kids at home.

It was just a real eye-opener for us. Because as we get older, I hope that when I'm in my twilight years, I can look back and be grateful to the people who have appreciated me and to be able to give back. Because music is about sharing and passing on inspiration and that was his opportunity to do that; not just lashing out in a way that was just completely unfocused.

What was your initial reaction when you realized that he didn't know or care who you were?
Pat and I were both definitely disappointed, to say the least. But you never really know what to expect when you meet quote unquote "superstars." Rock & roll superstars, it used to be different for them. Playing stadiums and selling millions and millions of albums. It's almost like he doesn't have respect for the younger generations and how hard it is in the business today. When he made his first record, he did it at Olympic Studios with Glyn Johns. Pat and I made our first record in a basement with broken gear.

[denbot]

1. I heard of Miller's comments on Sirius Radio.

This is the first I heard from the other side. I no longer feel as outraged on his behest.

[Initech]

2. Steve Miller sounds like he midnight toked a little too much.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Hah -- I like that dig at him "...when I'm in my twilight years..."

[kwassa]

4. Steve Miller hasn't produced enough quality music to be in the HOF.

His earliest records were pretty good, but after that ....

[IDemo]

5. Bit of a surprise to hear this

Years ago when I worked in telephone repair I spoke with him on the phone about a ticket he had. He was very friendly and modest sounding. I had the impression then and have heard from others that he would be a good guy to have a beer with. I guess first impressions can be wrong and people can change.

[progressoid]

6. Wow.