Silversun Pickups Call Selling Out a 'Grandpa Idea'

Once upon a time, artists who lent their music to TV commercials were brandished with a scarlet "S" for sellout. But nowadays, when established groups like Bob Dylan, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, not to mention younger bands like the Temper Trap and Ting Tings, having their music in advertising, does selling out even exist anymore? Silversun Pickups don't think so.

"Things have changed so much and people are so hip to the idea that a lot of radio stations don't even play these bands, so the whole sellout thing is almost a grandpa idea, something your dad would say," frontman Brian Aubert tells Spinner. "Now when you hear a Spoon song in a commercial you go, 'F---ing awesome.' We always say, 'We love coming to your town and that helped us get there.' That's the reality of it."

Yes, Silversun Pickups have had their music in commercials as well, but Aubert, like a lot of musicians, is conflicted by the whole thing. Asked about their own placement in ads he says, "They're in them, but I'm glad you haven't heard them. Recently, we've been OK. But we've done a bunch."

They've also played corporate parties, about which Aubert jokingly says, "We've done 'em, but we're not gonna talk about them." Having scored a Top 10 debut with 'Swoon' and being one of the biggest bands in L.A., the band has had their opportunities for the big biz gigs. How do they handle them? "Clearly there are things you don't do and even though there are some offers, you're like, 'Wow, but you cannot do that now.' And you're fine with it," he says. "Then there are others that are fine and that fuels your musical habit and that's cool. It doesn't buy you a car and that would be the wrong idea too. But if it keeps you afloat we think that's a worthwhile cause."

He cites one party they did thanks to a gracious invitation by the Foo Fighters. "The Foo Fighters are so wonderful," he says. "We only did two shows with them, but they're such nice people that they did this big Fredrick's of Hollywood party at the Palladium and they got us and their friends Eagles of Death Metal on the bill and they put us on just to give us money. They know."