Death of A Camel Sales Man: Indie Rock mavens' hearts and lungs blacken

This hipster-life thwarting is all the rage these days. It seems everyone wants to get in our way of listening to happening musica, now even tobacco companies.

Eight states' Attorney Generals (including California's) are suing RJ Reynolds because they think the Rolling Stone 'Indie Rock Universe' cartoon is actually a Camel cigarettes advertisement.

For a more in-depth account, go here OR here.

Further proof that I need fucking glasses...


For us with petty eyes...
A full list of bands involved can be found here.

Spy any of your friends on there? Yep. Even worse - see your OWN band on there?

From The Daily Swarm's reader and media comments:

#20 pissed says: I'm in one of the bands name dropped in this fold out ad. Nobody, at any time contacted my band, label or publicist. We were never asked if we wanted to be mentioned in a cigarette ad or if we minded to have our music on The Farm website. We certainly we\are NOT compensated in anyway.

and

#3 chi says: It's one thing for the Lips and Dino Jr. to knowingly take Camel's money; it's another for a band that would never do such a thing to find itself "name-checked" (to use a word in the story) in this advertorial section. Does that imply that the group endorses the product? The argument could be made, if we buy that the section was all one big ad. I'd say that if a band was litigious, it could get some nice coin-and media attention underscoring Camel's insidiousness-by threatening to sue.

I personally don't smoke, nor do any of my bandmates. I already lost a parent to lung cancer and having my band associated in any way with Camel INFURIATES me. Camel doesn't care about indie music and neither does Rolling Stone. Both just want youth money and don't care what ethics they breech to get it.

Looks like Mista Reynolds gos a lot of esplainin ta do!
This could get pretty ugly....