Arcade Fire's Win Butler Responds to "Reflektor" Graffiti Criticism

FUSE TV - Arcade Fire's Win Butler Responds to "Reflektor" Graffiti Criticism

If Kanye West could gain worldwide buzz about his upcoming release by projecting his rapping head on tall buildings, then why would Arcade Fire think twice before rolling out a similar (ish) guerrilla marketing campaign?

Well, apparently the answer lies in whether or not they care about how local storeowners feel about graffiti. 

And after writer Ian Dille penned an article for Slate in which he copped to feeling "used" after his wife's shop was hit with graffiti art promoting the band's single "Reflektor," frontman, Win Butler, apologized.

In the article tittled "My Wife Was Vandalized by Arcade Fire," Dille, an unabashed Arcade Fire fan, wrote:

"Unlike a lot of people, who thought the graffiti campaign was ingenious, when I found out the logo was nothing but a commercial promotion I felt … used. Even—and maybe this is too harsh?—a little betrayed."
He further dissected what the marketing move meant for the (once indie darling) band on a whole.
"I'm not just saying that because my wife’s boss spent hours cleaning the posters and paste off the wall," he said.

"As Arcade Fire has achieved mainstream success, they’ve also struggled to maintain their indie appeal. How does a band preserve its counter-culture ethos when it’s on stage with industry stars accepting a Grammy for best album?

"Many bands have struggled with this problem, and Arcade Fire has generally handled it fairly well."

He concluded that "the band’s vandalism—er, “guerrilla marketing”—seems, in contrast, decidedly immature, or at the very least socially irresponsible."


For his part, Butler seemed genuinely shaken and quickly sent Dille a handwritten note.
"I'm really sorry your wife had to put up with that," he said. "The chalk campaign was supposed to echo with Haitan veve drawings that are done in chalk or in the dirt. It is sometimes hard to control all these tiny details when you are doing something on such a large scale.

"Hope to meet you at a show when we are in Austin."

"Reflektor" is pretty extraordinary, so right now doesn't seem like the best time to boycott the band without punishing yourself.

We hope Dille was happy to find out that Butler seems like a kind and decent human being—still a humble indie darling at heart.

Chapter 3 Goes From Tagging Graffiti to An Artist & Producer

9m

Chapter 3 Goes From Tagging Graffiti to An Artist & Producer

Who Came To Win?

20m

Who Came To Win?

Plastic Surgery Talks With Dr. Miami and Jenelle Butler

6m

Plastic Surgery Talks With Dr. Miami and Jenelle Butler

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

2m

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

Fire Hot Fitness

44m

Fire Hot Fitness

DJ Khaled: Another Win

41m

DJ Khaled: Another Win

More Rapid-Fire Questions

1m

More Rapid-Fire Questions

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

The Cast Answers Rapid-Fire Questions

1m

The Cast Answers Rapid-Fire Questions

Maid To Order

45m

Maid To Order

Filmmakers To Watch

Filmmakers To Watch

Two to Tango

46m

Two to Tango

Right To Twerk

20m

Right To Twerk

Toe to Toe

1h 43m

Toe to Toe

License to Breed

23m

License to Breed

Welcome To Hollywood

21m

Welcome To Hollywood

Care to Laugh

1h 16m

Care to Laugh

Toe to Toe - Trailer

2m

Toe to Toe - Trailer

Sea to Shining Sea

1h 21m

Sea to Shining Sea

Welcome to The 212

20m

Welcome to The 212

Welcome to the Jungle

46m

Welcome to the Jungle

Go Back to China

1h 21m

Go Back to China

Hail To The King

22m

Hail To The King

Down to the Wire

45m

Down to the Wire

Care to Laugh - Trailer

2m

Care to Laugh - Trailer

Whitney: Born to Sing

41m

Whitney: Born to Sing

That Farm To Table Ish

20m

That Farm To Table Ish

Time To Take 'Em Down

20m

Time To Take 'Em Down

Taylor Swift: Dare to Dream

41m

Taylor Swift: Dare to Dream

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Rock

41m

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Rock

How To Be A Disruptor

20m

How To Be A Disruptor

Sea to Shining Sea - Trailer

2m

Sea to Shining Sea - Trailer

George Michael: Easy to Pretend

56m

George Michael: Easy to Pretend

Go Back to China - Trailer

1m

Go Back to China - Trailer

Get To Know Deana: Fluffy Fanatic

1m

Get To Know Deana: Fluffy Fanatic

How to Make Ally Brooke's Enchiladas

44s

How to Make Ally Brooke's Enchiladas

How to Make DaniLeigh's Pastelón

1m

How to Make DaniLeigh's Pastelón

Back To The Heart Attack Grill

2m

Back To The Heart Attack Grill

Comedians React to SHOCKING US Laws!

6m

Comedians React to SHOCKING US Laws!

We Need To Talk About America

We Need To Talk About America

The Legend of Baron To'a

1h 39m

The Legend of Baron To'a

Get to Know Gil: Fluffy Fanatic

1m

Get to Know Gil: Fluffy Fanatic

That Back To The Future Ish

20m

That Back To The Future Ish

King Keraun Attempts to Fly Board

6m

King Keraun Attempts to Fly Board

Get To Know Mariposa: Fluffy Fanatic

1m

Get To Know Mariposa: Fluffy Fanatic

Women's Rights & Strengths Coming To Light

8m

Women's Rights & Strengths Coming To Light

Suck It Up and Go to Mars

21m

Suck It Up and Go to Mars

It's Hard To Raise Yourself These Days

20m

It's Hard To Raise Yourself These Days

Danny Trejo Welcomes You to Trejo's Tacos

2m

Danny Trejo Welcomes You to Trejo's Tacos

The Legend of Baron To'a - Trailer

1m

The Legend of Baron To'a - Trailer

Wearing Your Shower Curtain to the Club

41m

Wearing Your Shower Curtain to the Club

What Not To Ask A Trans Woman

1m

What Not To Ask A Trans Woman

King Keraun Goes "Back to the Future"

6m

King Keraun Goes "Back to the Future"

Fat Joe Brings Smoothini to Rucker Park

2m

Fat Joe Brings Smoothini to Rucker Park

How to Make T-Pain's Beef Pie

1m

How to Make T-Pain's Beef Pie

Immigrants Are Starting To Take A Stand!

5m

Immigrants Are Starting To Take A Stand!

King Keraun Attempts to Become A Ventriloquist

6m

King Keraun Attempts to Become A Ventriloquist

Where Is It Illegal To Eat Frogs?!

14m

Where Is It Illegal To Eat Frogs?!

How to make Dave East's Steak and Eggs

49s

How to make Dave East's Steak and Eggs

Can Devon and Crystal Come to Some Resolution?

2m

Can Devon and Crystal Come to Some Resolution?

Marissa Challenges Her Mom To A $50 Bet

1m

Marissa Challenges Her Mom To A $50 Bet

We're Here to Help: LGBTQIA+ Resources & Charities

1m

We're Here to Help: LGBTQIA+ Resources & Charities

Mom Wants Me to Find a Tinder Match

20m

Mom Wants Me to Find a Tinder Match

Is It Illegal To Trip A Horse Up?

7m

Is It Illegal To Trip A Horse Up?

Here's What to Expect on "Saturday Morning Fever"

2m

Here's What to Expect on "Saturday Morning Fever"

Where Is It ILLEGAL to Send Unwanted Pizzas?

6m

Where Is It ILLEGAL to Send Unwanted Pizzas?

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

1m

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

King Keraun Attempts to Become An "Archery Master"

6m

King Keraun Attempts to Become An "Archery Master"

We Need To Talk About America - S2 Trailer

1m

We Need To Talk About America - S2 Trailer

Will Bambiana's Anger Issues Lead to Termination: First Look

37s

Will Bambiana's Anger Issues Lead to Termination: First Look

How to Make Rick Ross' Homemade Spaghetti and Catfish

1m

How to Make Rick Ross' Homemade Spaghetti and Catfish

Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub

1m

Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub

Comedians React to Unbelievably Strange Laws in the US

6m

Comedians React to Unbelievably Strange Laws in the US

Jesus Trejo Gets People to Revel their Deepest Confessions

2m

Jesus Trejo Gets People to Revel their Deepest Confessions

Yesenia Gives Financial Advice To Mia | Clash of The Corps

2m

Yesenia Gives Financial Advice To Mia | Clash of The Corps

Peder Cho Transforms Basic Cargo Shorts to a Bucket Hat

9m

Peder Cho Transforms Basic Cargo Shorts to a Bucket Hat

The Fluffy Crew Says Hello to Rebellion's 'Fat Boy Finesse'

3m

The Fluffy Crew Says Hello to Rebellion's 'Fat Boy Finesse'

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

2m

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

Vandal - Trailer

1m

Vandal - Trailer

Vandal

1h 32m

Vandal

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

1m

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

How to Make Jhené Aiko’s Vegan Carrot & Potato Tacos

1m

How to Make Jhené Aiko’s Vegan Carrot & Potato Tacos

King Keraun Attempts to Become An "Archery Master" YouTube

6m

King Keraun Attempts to Become An "Archery Master" YouTube

How to Make A$AP Ferg's Homemade Cookie Apple Pie

1m

How to Make A$AP Ferg's Homemade Cookie Apple Pie

Who Will be Cut from Team Freedia to Save Finances?

2m

Who Will be Cut from Team Freedia to Save Finances?

Young M.A Jumps Over Cars To Open For Beyoncé

2m

Young M.A Jumps Over Cars To Open For Beyoncé

It's Offensive, Not Artistic

24m

It's Offensive, Not Artistic

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

17m

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

King Keraun Learns To Make Bread From Scratch From A Baker

8m

King Keraun Learns To Make Bread From Scratch From A Baker

Xristina Tries To Romance A Ghost At A Haunted B&B

2m

Xristina Tries To Romance A Ghost At A Haunted B&B

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

1m

Dancin' On Air Producer Once Told Madonna to Clean Her Mess

Art

22m

Art

First Gen Comedians React to Cringy Episodes of "Pant Off Dance Off"

1m

First Gen Comedians React to Cringy Episodes of "Pant Off Dance Off"

Peder Cho Shows How to DIY a Blazer Into a Tweed Vest

9m

Peder Cho Shows How to DIY a Blazer Into a Tweed Vest

Shenseea Shares Her Rags to Riches Story & Cooks A Native Jamaican Dish

8m

Shenseea Shares Her Rags to Riches Story & Cooks A Native Jamaican Dish

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

2m

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

You Need A Certification To Be A Fortune Teller!? Funny US Laws

5m

You Need A Certification To Be A Fortune Teller!? Funny US Laws

Xristina's Trust Issues, Nya Needs to Step Up at Work: First Look

36s

Xristina's Trust Issues, Nya Needs to Step Up at Work: First Look

'Transcendent' First Look: An Emotional Look to the Past & Toward the Future

21s

'Transcendent' First Look: An Emotional Look to the Past & Toward the Future

How Much Is too Much When It Comes to Sex with Weezy

6m

How Much Is too Much When It Comes to Sex with Weezy