Big tobacco and corporate rock journalism are not your friends. The latest bit of evidence is in the fortieth anniversary issue of Rolling Stone, where readers are treated to a four-page pull-out section cartoonishly mapping the “Indie Rock Universe.” Kind of cute in a harmless way, except for the fact that it appears smack dab in the middle of an ad for Camel cigarettes. Ever the stewards of musical integrity, RJ Reynolds, under the umbrella of Camel cigarettes, started “The Farm,” a multimedia onslaught encompassing everything from free CDs to branded concerts starring the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Band of Horses, and Flaming Lips. The project was flying comfortably under the radar until the ad in Rolling Stone drew the ire of activist groups and state governments alike, as cigarette companies are prevented from using any cartoons in their advertising. As the investigation continued, stories emerged of Camel hyper-branding the shows, handing out free cigarettes, and, in a definite first for a Dinosaur Jr. concert, ensuring there were lots of cute females in attendance.

This is nothing new. I saw Concrete Blonde, the Reverend Horton Heat, and Iggy Pop (the day he broke his collar bone- that was bad ass) at Skoalfest in Columbus. Basically the same story there as the Camel concerts- cute girls and lots of free product. I don’t have any problem with what Camel is doing; the nature of their business necessitates them being weasels. I am, in all my righteous indignation, a little disappointed in Dinosaur Jr. and Flaming Lips (after the near-miss with Wal-Mart, I don’t know what to expect from Band of Horses). If they smoke cigarettes and want to endorse Camels, that’s fine. I can’t imagine, however, that either band is so desperate for money as to become the faces of big tobacco’s seduction of indie rock fans. [The Daily Swarm]