The television was on in the background as I was reading. I heard London Calling by The Clash so I turned to look at the TV and I realized it was a commercial for Jaguar. How ironic is that? Punk bands, especially The Clash were anti-authority, anti-capitalist, anti-status quo, anti-rich. Now their music is being used to sell luxury cars to rich people.
Iggy Pop, the godfather of punk, has allowed his music to be used by numerous companies in their TV ads. After being told for years by record companies that he wasn't "commercial enough" now his music is being heard by most people for the first time in commercials. Do you think that Ford knows that Lust For Life is about trying quit heroin?
Unlike the "artists" that appear regularly on MTV, no one can say that The Clash or Iggy Pop has sold out artistically. Iggy Pop has been making music for more than 35 years and has never compromised his music in order to sell more records so he never sold (relatively) a lot of records. He should be allowed to reap the long-overdue benefits without people questioning his integrity (not that he cares what other people think.) In fact Iggy said "those songs were written 30 years ago with no regard to commercial success whatsoever. If the check clears, they can use them to sell dog food now for all I care. I know what they were about."
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