Jack White has issued an official response to country star Charley Crockett amid an ongoing feud over Satanic band imagery. The exchange stems from Crockett dropping the band Twin Temple from two shows, reportedly over their use of Satanic imagery, a decision that drew criticism from White.
Crockett had previously addressed the situation, disputing the reasoning behind White’s public statement and questioning the timing of his involvement.
“I never dropped that band from those [two] shows for ‘Satanic Imagery,’ they made it up and dragged me by a rope real good,” Crockett said. “They got together with their business folks and plotted for days before finally making their public statement, designed for effect. Purposely making it look like it was a whole tour. Dog whistling about religious and creative freedom. Of course my rights didn’t matter since they had a new record coming out and a headline tour to announce.”
Crockett continued by suggesting White’s motives were tied to promotion. He pointed to White’s past silence on political matters during his time in The White Stripes.
“He used it to sell tickets too and I lost a lot of respect for him,” Crockett said. “I wonder why he wasn’t so outspoken back when he was in The White Stripes 20-something years ago. They purposely avoided political issues. Maybe he was worried about losing audience back when it was all on the line and he needed all the help he could get.”
White responded directly to Crockett’s accusations, choosing an unconventional format for his rebuttal by sharing the full lyrics to the 1984 novelty rap song “Rappin’ Duke.”
“I never said nothing about this young buck before but since he’s trying to drag me into this here rodeo again, here’s my official response to Cowboy Charley’s accusations,” White said, before continuing with the lyrics of “Rappin’ Duke,” a song in which artist Shawn Brown impersonates Western film star John Wayne through a rap delivery.
The dispute traces back to July, when Crockett pulled Twin Temple from two dates on his tour, dates that had been set for July 14 and July 18. Twin Temple is a husband-and-wife duo who bill themselves as a “satanic doo-wop” act, building their sound and stage presence around occult and Satanic imagery, with song titles including “Burn Your Bible” and “Let’s Have a Satanic Orgy.” That aesthetic became the flashpoint for the controversy once the band publicly announced their removal from Crockett’s bill.
White stepped into the situation soon after, extending an invitation for Twin Temple to open his upcoming show at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, scheduled for September 29. The gesture was widely viewed as a direct show of support for the band following their removal from Crockett’s tour. Twin Temple accepted the offer.
Crockett has since shifted his explanation for the original decision, claiming the split had nothing to do with the band’s Satanic themes and instead came down to production logistics. He argued the show’s staging was not compatible with his tour setup and the largely family-friendly crowds he draws, a claim that contrasts with Twin Temple’s original account of being dropped over their imagery. Crockett now frames the entire episode as something manufactured for attention rather than a genuine dispute over religious or artistic expression. The dates originally reserved for Twin Temple were ultimately filled by other opening acts rather than restored.
The feud between the two musicians appears unresolved. Further responses from either side may follow.
