From Austin 360:
The Thermals, a rambunctious rock band from Portland, Ore., were en route between gigs last year when they got a phone call from their label, Sub Pop. Hummer wanted to pay them $50,000 for the right to use their song “It’s Trivia” in a commercial.
“We thought about it for about 15 seconds, maybe,” lead singer Hutch Harris said.
They said no.
Washington D.C.’s Trans Am were offered $180,000 by Hummer for the song “Total Information Awareness.”
“We figured it was almost like giving music to the Army, or Exxon,” guitarist Philip Manley said.
They said no.
The post-punk band LiLiPUT, who broke up more than 20 years ago, could have pocketed $50,000 for “Heidi’s Head” after making close to nothing during their five-year existence. But they, too, said no.
“At least I can sleep without nightmares,” Marlene Marder reasoned.
