[Lechium]

There are indie bands that play shows in Australia/New Zeland, despite moving fewer units of CD's/having less airplay/having less pormotion than the stapp man. Mike Patton and his numerious projects (Fantomas for example) go there just fine.
It's a matter of caring for fans, enjoying playing shows, traveling and many other things. Some people are more fit at being performance artists than others.

That's why I respect REAL indie bands -- they tour non-stop. Because they're poor and they need to make ends meet, yah, but if they didn't like playing their music they'd get a different job. Bands that release an album, tour, than sit around for few years and just fuck around, always make impressions of NOT true musicians on me (some bands I love fit this image. Massive Attack, Radiohead, I'm looking at you!).

P.S. moral of story? you can think of it yourself I'm sure.