This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Neon Trees performed this weekend at a music festival in Indonesia but the Provo-based band didn't take any tobacco money.
The band, whose members are Mormon and have spoken publicly against tobacco and alcohol advertising at their performances, was criticized by Australian anti-tobacco activist Marita Hefler for agreeing to play the Java Rockin'Land festival in Jakarta - which was sponsored by Gudang Garam, a major producer of clove cigarettes.
Neon Trees did play the festival this weekend - but announced at the end of the set that they would donate their proceeds from the event to the Indonesian Cancer Fund.
"We did not feel it was appropriate to boycott a culture because of beliefs, norms or social customs, and we respect all of our fans' individual choices for their own lives," the band wrote on its website. "We hope our message of donating our cut from playing the festival is a clear indicator to any doubter that we did not play the event to gain funds off of a tobacco sponsor."