Album Cover Sparks Controversy |
|
According to the BBC, a representative of the NHS in Scotland today said that the cover of the Arctic Monkeys debut album "reinforces the idea that smoking is OK"
From news.bbc.co.uk:
An Arctic Monkeys spokesman has defended the band's album cover, after it was criticised for showing a man smoking a cigarette.
Dr Laurence Gruer of NHS Health Scotland said the chart-topping album's cover "reinforces the idea that smoking is OK", he told the Herald newspaper.
But the band's product manager, Johnny Bradshaw, denied it promoted smoking.
"You can see from the image smoking is not doing him the world of good," Mr Bradshaw said.
The Arctic Monkey's debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not has sold more than 360,000 copies since its 23 January release.
It features a photograph of a friend of the band smoking on its front cover and an ashtray filled with cigarette butts on its reverse.
Dr Gruer, director of public health science at NHS Health Scotland, said: "Although the band is from Sheffield, thousands of youngsters in Scotland will buy it because it is good music.
"It is the fastest-selling album in British history, but it gives out the wrong image."
He added: "With a blatant image of a guy smoking, it will be seen by many as a cool thing to do."
But Mr Bradshaw said: "The image has been used all over the place.
"We have not had any complaints from supermarkets or places where the album has been stocked." |
|
|
Tour Tickets on General Sale Today |
|
Tickets for the upcoming tour in April will go on sale at 6pm today (Thursday) from the venues themselves, or from gigsandtours.com
A statement on the official website today announces that tickets will be limited to two per person when ordering online to prevent ebay touts. |
|
|
"We're Not The Best Band In Britain" says Cookie |
|
Arctic Monkeys guitarist James "Cookie" Cook has refused to get above of himself by playing down the hype and explaining that their dream of being the best is not yet so true.
He explained:
"We know we're not the best band in the country, so why say we are? If we do fail, at least we can say, 'We told you so.'
"That's not us being down on ourselves. That's just being honest." |
|
|
Arctic Monkeys Hailed By Jarvis Cocker |
|
Pulp frontman and fellow Sheffield lad Jarvis Cocker has praised Arctic Monkeys and how they have achieved so much success - without even trying.
He has branded the success of the band as a triumph over the pop industry that spend millions on making acts huge. Cocker told contact music:
“I think it's very important because they've done it without trying.
"The only reason people have got into it (the music) is because they've listened to it and they like it, so it's something real.
"I guess all the music industry will probably think 'how can we emulate that or what can we do?'
"I think there's nothing they can do about it because it's something that has happened naturally, there's no way to apply spin doctorism to it." |
|
|
|