Epic modern rock act Fuel has requested that Toyota cease and desist using the name of a rock tour the auto manufacturer is sponsoring. The band feels the similarity of Toyota’s “Fuel The Music Tour,” concocted to herald its new Matrix model vehicle, confusing to the band’s fans.
“We want to clarify any confusion among our fans, and just feel this is an unfortunate oversight by the organizers of this tour,” guitarist Carl Bell said in a statement. “We wish the tour well, but we’ve fought long and hard to make a name for ourselves and don’t want to mislead music fans in any way. Music and touring are what we do, so we have to protect our name.”
As previously reported, Toyota tour, co-sponsored by MP3.com, features a rotating lineup of such acts as Sum 41, American Hi-Fi, Hoobastank, Rival Schools, Injected, Andrew WK, Blindfold, rubyhorse, and Greenwheel. The eight-week trek kicked off Feb. 2 with shows in Orlando, Fla., and Hollywood, Calif., and a Webcast of both through the tour’s official Web site.
According to the statement, the band became aware of the tour after seeing an ad for it opposite a photo of the band. Fuel is currently on a hiatus after touring for 18 months in support of its 2000 album “Something Like Human.” That set debuted at No. 17 on The Billboard 200.
At deadline, a representative for Toyota had not returned a call for comment.
