Pitchfork

Yesterday, we ran a story about how Ted Leo-- along with Girl Talk, Enon, Blitzen Trapper, and several other musicians-- had won a Taco Bell contest entitling them to $500 in free Taco Bell food. The information in the story came from a press release from Taco Bell themselves.

One problem: Ted Leo never even entered the contest, as far as he knows!

This morning, Leo emailed us and posted the following on his website, under the heading "For the Record (Re: Taco Bell)":

Here are two letters I sent to Pitchfork today:

Hey Peeps - for the record, I know nothing about this Taco Bell thing - I'll try to get to the bottom of why my name is being used here, but I'd appreciate a clarification from someone at Pitchfork as to where they heard/saw this...
(I'm referring to this story: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/46311-girl-talk-ted-leo-enon-blitzen-win-taco-bell-contest)
Thanks!
-Ted Leo

Friday 10/12/07 10:11 AM

Yo - upon further research, I have found that the web site (http://www.tacobell.com/feedthebeat/) says that "hundreds of bands submitted applications" - I knew nothing about this until this morning, and obviously, did not submit an application. Maybe it's a hoax, maybe someone else did it and didn't tell me, but I have no desire to be attached to the Pepsi corporation, which also runs KFC, etc., and anything you guys can do to help me get that point across would be greatly appreciated.
xo - Ted

Friday 10/12/07 10:24 AM

And also for the record, Taco Bell will be hearing from me (not a big threat to them, I know, but still...)

Wow. We are really, really sorry about that, Ted! Thankfully, after we sent Ted's label, Touch and Go, the Taco Bell press release, it all got worked out. Ted updated his site with this message:

UPDATE 11:11 AM - We have contacted Taco Bell (that's a sentence I never thought I'd have to type - ed.), and have found out that someone submitted an application from a G-mail address that is not ours (Heck of a job, G-mail!), so we have, in fact, been pranked, which, since Taco Bell is now removing our name from everything associated with this dumb-ass "Muy Caliente! Side Stage at the Altell Garden Party Pavillion" bullshit, I have to appreciate on some levels... but anyway, it was fake, we weren't involved with Taco Bell, and now it's over. Thank you for your participation!
Yo quiero the internet.

(For the record, Ted Leo's Touch and Go labelmates Enon did, in fact, enter the contest knowingly.)

Another reason why Ted probably isn't so happy with Taco Bell using his name is that he's vegan, and a PETA spokesman.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are on the road now. Go spend money on their shows and merch, and not on crappy fast food.

Ted Leo dates:

10-12 Chicago, IL - Metro ^!
10-13 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ^
10-14 Fargo, ND - Aquarium ^
10-16 Winnipeg, Manitoba - West End
10-17 Regina, Saskatchewan - The Distrikt
10-18 Calgary, Alberta - Liberty Lounge
10-20 Edmonton, Alberta - Starlight
10-22 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards @
10-23 Seattle, WA - Neumo's (Crystal Ball Reading Room) @
10-25 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall @
10-26 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall @
10-27 Claremont, CA - Pomona College (students only)
10-28 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues %
10-30 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre @
10-31 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern LG %
11-01 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
11-03 Denton, TX - Hailey's +
11-04 Austin, TX - Waterloo Park (Fun Fun Fun Fest)
11-06 Little Rock, AR - Juanita's Cantina Ballroom +
11-07 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone Cafe +
11-30 Providence, RI - Lupo's at the Strand #*
12-01 Boston, MA - Roxy #*
12-02 Portland, ME - Space #*
12-04 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg &*
12-05 New York, NY - Webster Hall #*
12-06 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom ?*
12-07 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club ?*
12-08 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *

^ with the A-Sides
! with the Eternals
@ with Quasi
% with the Pogues
+ with Birds of Avalon
# with the Gang
& with Love or Perish
? with Partyline
* with Kristeen Young