A recent post on X showcased a candid exchange between Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and the directors of the HBO Films documentary Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary. The post, captioned, “Donald Fagen of Steely Dan letting the ‘Yacht Rock’ directors know what he thinks of the term and his band’s association with it,” revealed Fagen’s sharp reaction.
In the call, director Garret Price introduced himself, saying, “Hi, Mr. Fagen. I’m Garret, working on a documentary about ‘Yacht Rock.’ I’ve spoken with several musicians who’ve worked with you and Steely Dan, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this genre.”
Fagen responded bluntly, “And what genre is that?” When Price replied, “Yacht Rock,” Fagen shot back, “Oh, ‘Yacht Rock.’ Why don’t you go f*** yourself?” The director laughed nervously as the line disconnected, adding, “I think Donald Fagen just hung up on me.”
Despite the abrupt exchange, Fagen’s manager later gave permission for six Steely Dan tracks to appear in the documentary. Price told People that the incident, featured in the film, was entirely genuine. Reflecting on it, he said, “It’s a classic Donald Fagen moment—a mix of humor and disdain. He knows how much the term ‘Yacht Rock’ connects to his music, but he’s clear about how he feels about it.”
Premiering at the DOC NYC festival on November 13, Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary explores the soft rock sound that emerged in the late ’70s and early ’80s, blending jazz and R&B influences. The genre, named after a satirical web series from 2005–2010, celebrates artists like Steely Dan, Toto, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and others, including groundbreaking contributions from Black artists like George Benson and Michael Jackson.
Fagen’s reaction underlines Steely Dan’s complicated relationship with the label, even as their influence remains central to the genre’s legacy.
