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Aiden's letter to Apple
Alternative Press - Laila Hanson on 5/12/09 @ 10:13 AM - altpress.com
Dear Apple,
What can I really say that Trent Reznor hasn't? "I want to fuck you like an animal?" Oh wait, he said that. "I am a big man and I have a big gun. Got me a big ol' dick and I like to have fun, held it against your forehead, I'll make you suck it, maybe I'll put a hole in your head, you know, just for the fuck of it." Yeah, he said that, too, all on a record called The Downward Spiral. I have purchased that album five times in my life. I first got it on Cassette when it came out in 1994, I bought it a couple of times on CD and last year I purchased it on iTunes right after I went out and picked up the vinyl. Why? Because it's a great fucking record.
I don't want to go on the same rant as him, although I probably share the exact same feelings.
So what if a crappy punk band from Seattle sings about the deception of religion as a whole? So what if they sing about Catholic priests molesting little boys? Who really cares at all if they wail about a Hungarian Countess that was born in the 1500's and killed over 600 women? Who Cares? The PMRC? Ted Haggard? Congress? Jesus? Oh wait, no... JESUS ISN'T FUCKING REAL.
Yes, maybe we talked a little bit of shit while doing the commentary for the iPhone app about Christianity, about sex and about... Fuck I can't even remember because it's so fucking insignificant. Why don't you be a little clearer in what it was that we need to watch out for? Oh wait... I thought I lived in America where my freedom of speech right was protected by the constitution?
That's right, I forgot. I actually live in Hell. Oops. Remind me to tell someone I have a complaint to submit in the box on the wall.
Aside from the content issue, the app was also rejected because you want to "protect" the value of the iTunes store and having an app with embedded content "competes" with what is ultimately your monopoly. Ironic and hypocritical, no, since Apple owns both channels?
I just want to say thank you Apple for not approving our iPhone app. Thank you so much. To celebrate this great occasion, I'm going to visit your iTunes Music Store and download The Slim Shady LP; I really want to hear that song he sings about killing his wife and dumping her body in the ocean. Awesome!!!
William Control / AIDEN
PS: Any by the way, we have sold over 325,000 albums so far in our career without widespread mainstream media exposure. So, we must be relevant to someone.
Below is our rejection confirmation:
"Dear Nicholas,
Thank you for submitting Aiden to the App Store. We've reviewed Aiden and determined that we cannot post this version of your application to the App Store at this time. Because your app downloads media files that are not managed by the iTunes application, which also manages media files, we believe this would be confusing to the user. To avoid this customer confusion, we have chosen to not publish this type of application to the App Store.
In addition, we've reviewed Aiden and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains objectionable content and is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement which states:
"Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple's reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users."
If you believe you can make the necessary modifications to bring your application in compliance with iPhone Software License Agreement, we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.
Regards, iPhone Developer Program"
No, William, you and your band are not relevant. Just because a bunch of idiot teeney-bopper girls bought a copy of your CD because it just so happened to be at Hot Topic does not make your unprofessional rant to Apple any less stupid and effective. You got your app rejected because it has objectionable content on it. I am not aware exactly what that content is, because there isn't enough money in the world to convince me to partake in the drivel you call "art". If you write even one album as legendary as Downward Spiral, or even a song as good as Head Like A Hole, then you can gripe and strongarm Apple. But for now, you're just some dumb kid who can't hold a candle to Trent Reznor.
ATTN: a_rodhowe. I believe you have just contradicted yourself by making the statement you made. For one, just because you do not listen to Aiden doesn't mean other people don't. I am not a "teeny bopper" nor do I have access to Hot Topic because there isn't one in my entire country. I picked up their CD at a regular HMV chain store because I liked their music. To say that they made an unprofessional rant and then make one yourself back to them is your contradiction. Will pointed out an true fact that there is a lot of objectionable content on Apple and to not accept them for that reason is practically a form of discrimination. Get over yourself and let people do whatever they want.
On another note, I find this note hilarious. Props to Will.
ATT:brandx - I'm not a professional. Can't really make an unprofessional statement when I'm not a professional. And it is not young mister William's place to "point things out" to Apple. He's letting his ego get out of control. Also, I know of a LOT of people who think Aiden is shitty. Just peruse the Mosh Pit section of this website, and you'll find a bunch. Go to the average university and you'll find even more. Still, Aiden has made their career out of being a low-grade ripoff of every other band that wished they were the Misfits. If Apple decides that Aiden can tantrum their way to an approval, then all humanity is in grave danger. William Control is a waste of air and space.
Aiden is nowhere near being my favorite band, but I'd just like to say I totally agree with brandx
a_rodhowe: your are a fucking idiot