PETA asked us a year ago if we wanted to be part of their anti-fur campaign. We aren't vegans, so we aren't perfect animal rights activists, but we do believe that the fur industry is really unnecessary and cruel. (Watch a video of me and Jason talking about this here.) So we finally got around to posing for a picture for them. We posed naked, or rather, almost naked — our pants were pulled down but they were still on. It was funny. The photographer felt uncomfortable telling me when to cover my "er, um, nipples". We really thought no one would even notice that we did this, but we had a lot of backlash, as well as many supportive comments. I guess that means the effect was positive, since it got people talking. Plus, this might be the first time in history that people talking about our band focused something other than our marriage. Some of the mean comments have included how we look like trolls, and how we are hypocrites because I have a diamond on my finger and the diamond industry is equally as horrible. I don't remember 
Magnolia eats breakfast at my parents' house. Above, our scandalous PETA ad. the good comments. That's a fault of mine. I hear the negative ones over and over but I can't remember the nice words. Whatever. . . we were trying to do something we felt strongly about.
As we're debating our nude PETA photo, we notice something ironic in the very room we are sitting in. We're staying with my parents until our new house is ready, and Magnolia is eating her breakfast next to something she (and her parents) are a little frightened of. Hint: it's not the TV or the enormous Elmo. Check it out.
We never got asked to advertise our objections to hunting, so for the record, we object. And also for the record, my father hasn't shot anything in a long time. He has finally started leaning toward us "bleeding heart liberals," right Dad? Anyway, if we took naked pictures in protest of everything we didn't agree with, we'd be walking around buck naked all the time.
Next time: Magnolia faces her pacifier addiction, and we get ready to rock the west coast!
©2007 Mates of State and Nerve Media
About the Author
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Kori Gardner is the organ-playing half of the band Mates of State; her husband, Jason Hammel, plays drums. Known for their vocal harmonies and euphoric melodies, Mates of State has been described by critics as "unabashed joy", "honesty at its best", a "two piece with balls", and "a band that you must see live." Their daughter, Magnolia, was born in 2004 and started touring with the band at 10 weeks. Hear their latest album, Bring it Back, at www.matesofstate.com. |
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