Seeing as the Smiths broke up over 20 years ago I don't think advertising is really a priority.

If being in Hot Topic is such a cultural faux pas then how come so many people know whats being sold in it?

Something like this

Me: hey that's a cool Smith's shirt, where did you get it?
Poser: Hot Topic
Me: ohhhhh...........so what's your favorite song?
Poser: Ohhh ummm I like them all.

Liking every Smiths song is an acceptable answer.

As a Smiths fan I've just let it go and been quiet about liking them to avoid being associated with that goth crowd. Once Pete Wentz is writing books and naming them after Smiths songs you may as well give up being protective about them.

I don't think not being able to name a band member or album is.

They'll take an Atreyu shirt any day.

You people are overreacting about this WAY too much. You'll find Beatles t-shirts everywhere. Is that reason enough to pigeonhole them in the nearest counterculture movement you run across? No, methinks.

The point is that if a Smiths t-shirt is found inside a mall shop (even one so debased as Hot Topic), it just means that they've embraced merchandising their image to willing consumers. Whoop-dee-fucking-doo. You people need to grow a sense of cynicism, otherwise you're gonna find yourself outraged at more shit than need be.

Once again they broke up twenty years ago. Saying they've sold out is ridiculous.

I didn't say they sold out. It's kind of hard to sell out when your genre is best described as "jangle pop". I'm just saying that people need to loosen up a bit and stop acting like Morrissey sold his soul to the devil.