The Republican Party might want to revise their playlist. In the past 9 months the GOP has butt-heads with 4 different (democratic) artists who are steaming mad about their music being played in association with the GOP, whether at campaign rallies, or in commercials. All of the musicians involved contest that permission to use their music was never granted. The first battles took place in February, John Mellencamp and Tom Scholz (guitarist and founder of Boston) both had separate occurrences that left them feeling extremely cheated.
Mellencamp asked Senator McCain to stop using his songs, “Our Country” and “Pink Houses;” which is a strange song to pick as a campaign anthem considering the lyrics, “the simple man baby pays for the thrills, the bills and the pills that kill.”
Mellencamp however, quietly asked McCain to stop using these songs.
Tom Scholz of Boston chose to send Mike Huckabee a letter in which he explains in detail everything that is incorrect with Huckabee’s usage of Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” during his campaigning. Simply put, Scholz explains to Huckabee that, “by using my song, and my band’s name BOSTON, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed.”
In August, Jackson Browne (A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer) sued John McCain and the Republican National Party for using his song “Running on Empty” in a commercial that mocks Barack Obama’s notion that the country can save gas by properly inflating their tires.
Now, in September, members of the band Heart are furious about their song “Barracuda” that was played at the republican national convention on September 3rd due to Sarah Palin having the nickname “Barracuda.” The song was played the next day at the RNC after the members of Heart had asked the GOP to stop using it. This forced them to release a final statement concerning the issue:
“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image.”
Word to the GOP music coordinator: Check out Ted Nugent, Johnny Ramone, Kid Rock and Ricky Skaggs – They won’t complain.