Reading can give you bad ideas.

We issued the following press release today.  Given the continuing controversy surrounding our song “The Chameleonaires” and the ongoing “Occupy” protests, we believe we can no longer remain silent on the matter.

 

October 10, 2011

CRYPTIC INDIE ROCK GROUP DISAVOWS RESPONSIBILITY
FOR “OCCUPY WALL STREET” PROTESTS

New York, NY – As “Occupy Wall Street” protests spread across the United States, veteran indie rock band The Long Afternoon is disavowing responsibility for and connection with the protests, even though one of its songs has become something of an anthem for many activists.

The song “The Chameleonaires” appears on the group’s latest album, An Index of Maladjustments, released in August by Problematic Audio recordings.  Atop a jagged framework of driving guitars, the song recites a surreal string of images that add up to a sharp critique of corporate and government malfeasance.

A disturbing video for the song, featuring explicit scenes of chameleons feeding on smaller creatures, is available on the group’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/8qFvNft–NA f

Protestors in the streets at Occupy Wall Street and similar events have been seen with signs quoting the song’s sardonic chorus, “We live to feed the chameleonaires!”

Even as the “Occupy” protests spread and grow in popularity, federal, state and local authorities have begun talking about consequences for instigators of civil disobedience.

The heated rhetoric is prompting The Long Afternoon to distance themselves from the actions of extremists who have adopted “The Chameleonaires” as a rallying cry.

“Given the increasingly volatile climate surrounding the protests and the association of their song with some of the more extreme activitists, the group felt they could no longer remain silent,” group spokesperson Ginger M. Armalade said in a written statement on the group’s Web site.

“The Long Afternoon acknowledges that its song ‘The Chameleonaires’ contains language and imagery that allude to class warfare and that suggest some extremely rich people do not have the best of intentions toward the rabble,” the statement continues.

“However, the song does not advocate rebellion against the power elites. It could even be interpreted as suggesting the ultimate purpose of most people is to serve the cream of the crop in society.

“In short, the song plays with themes of ambiguity and complexity, as does much of the group’s work. The Long Afternoon takes no sides in the class war, and neither endorse nor disparage the points of view of either side.”

The group statement appears on its Web site, www.thelongafternoon.com.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Ginger M. Armalade at [email protected].

 

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