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Steely Dan vs. Owen Wilson

Steely Dan members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker may look like nebbish professors, but they have flashed their claws -- or propensity for publicity stunts -- in a rambling diatribe to actor Luke Wilson. In the letter, published prominently on the band's website, Fagen and Becker express their belief that You, Me and Dupree -- starring Luke's brother, Owen -- was lifted straight from their Grammy-winning tune "Cousin Dupree."

"They, like, took our character, this real dog sleeping on the couch and all and put him in the middle of some hokey Down and Out in Beverly Hills ripoff story and then, when it came time to change the character's name or whatever so people wouldn't know what a rip the whole thing was, THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO THINK UP A NEW F*CKING NAME FOR THE GUY!" says the letter.

The Steely boys then called on Luke to put the pressure on his brother to issue an in-person mea culpa at one of the band's concerts. To sweeten the pot, Don and Walt promised to reward Owen with merchandise and the chance to party with the band. All they want is a simple apology. Oh, and maybe some money.

"Instant karma is a fact, Jack," Steely Dan tell Luke Wilson. "So your spaced out little bro is generating some MAJOR harsh-ass karma for himself by f*cking us over like this -- I mean, we're like totally out in the cold on this one -- no ASCAP, no soundtrack, no consultant gig (like we got from the Farrelly Bros. when they used a bunch of songs in their movie You, Me and Irene or whatever). No phone call, no muffin basket, no flowers, nothing."

The letter reaches Andy Kaufman-esque proportions by its end, as the band threatens to send a crazy Russian to inflict physical harm on Owen Wilson if he doesn't repent.

Publicists for the Wilsons refused comment.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
07.26.06