Van Halen Mad At McCain Over Song Use

John McCain ended the big rally introducing Sarah Palin as his running mate with the Van Halen song "Right Now," and the band is not pleased, reports TMZ:

After John McCain used a Van Halen song during his big speech earlier today, the band wants to make to make one thing clear -- they're not running with McCain.

Van Halen management tells us the band had no idea McCain was planning on using "Right Now" during his big entrance in Ohio telling us, "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given."

Oops! But it's familiar territory.

Just two weeks ago, rocker Jackson Browne was similarly furious about McCain using one his songs.

Here the song start up at the very end of Palin's speech, 25 minutes into the clip here.

Comments

[rubberstamp]

P A N A M A

[rubberstamp]

PANAMA?

[uppity]

PANAMA!
PANA-MA-A-A-A-A-A!

[LondonTownNY]

Yes, PANAMA would be excellent choice since it is from McCain's birthplace.

[DEMTRUPATRIOTS]

t was with mcbush in that photo?....­did someone reach down and squeeze his balls??

[CharlottesvilleVA]

So these artists need to get ASCAP and BMI to bring the hammer down on the McCain campaign like they do to restaurant and shop owners who play music for atmosphere in their establishments. Both groups send auditors into these businesses who take note of the music played then send letters or representatives to the business with cease and desist notices. If they don't cease and desist, they get sued up one side and down the other and they never beat the publishers. The copyright laws are clear on this issue, and the law is settled and not controversial.

[MBLADY]

To heck with being mad about it! Take legal action against McCain!

[Exhaust]

That would be a waste of time and money. They couldn't show damages.
It also wouldn't be wise to tick-off half the people in the country that could buy your music.
Van Halen is being childish.
Anyone ever get a picture of Eddie going into a voting booth? Did anyone think that Van Halen was supporting McCain? Did or have repubs, buy any Van Halen music?
Dems watch that Sarah Palin intro. too. I bet Van Halen had a jump in sales. Cry, cry, cry me a river...an­d go buy a house with the money you just made Van Halen.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Theft or misuse of copyrighted material is something with settled law, and there are established statutory damages. These laws exist for a reason, whether you think it's relevant or not. Using - especially using in a promotional sense - copyrighted music without the permission of the copyright owner can cost you a ton of money. American Idol pays tens of thousands of dollars per song - and that's a negotiated rights fees. Those who steal music for promotional purposes - particularly for a promotion that is broadcast on multiple TV networks to millions of people, can be expected to pay a great deal more than that.

It's not about Van Halen, or voting. It's about stealing something that doesn't belong to you. The Obama campaign has obtained rights for the music they've used. It's called "doing the right thing." I wouldn't expect Bush/McCain loyalists to understand what that phrase means, of course.

[alieninvader]

It's funny. I was at the O speech and the music was pretty cool, including some live performances. We were asking ourselves what kind of music would be at the repug convention, and all we were able to think of were probably some country bands...al­though not the Dixie Chicks or Willie Nelson.

I guess this answers the question, they'll just pay however they want.

[debrouillard]

Talking about copy right with JMC?
He has copied from ever thing imaginable. Remember is campaign slogan once changed to "Leader We Can Believe In" then he copied "The Cross on the sand story" ,Copied 'From Wkepidia", "Recipe".

[mamacat]

I wonder if what is left of the Beach Boys appreciated Mac changing their lyrics so it came out "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran!"? As someone who used to listen to the Beach Boys in the 60s, I cannot imagine using their tunes while in the process of advocating killing people.

[ccpostman]

They should have played (Oh) pretty woman, "Hot for the Teacher" or "Runnin' with the Devil" .

Something to fit the occasion.

[moderndude]

I'd go with "Runnin with the Devil" ..

[vfx]

John was born in PANAMA but Running with the Devil is best!

[DaOne]

Didn't they also use John Melloncamp tunes without permission a few months back?

Hey, if you are not going to respect the constitution, what chance does copyright law have?

[Exhaust]

LOL...woul­d they be mad if he had the song on his ipod? I think not.
It's called selective BITCHIN'. If people hear the song and start buying the album again, will Van Halen give the money back?
You know why the McCain camp can use the song, because they aren't making any money by using it? The only ones that would make money is Eddie and the boys. Too bad...So sad.

[debrouillard]

Whats your point,that the laws of the land no longer holds? Dont you know of a thing called copy right laws? Try and read it,u will find in on cases of ur dvd's and cd's or if u r JMC whatever it is the used to store sound data in the 30's.

But it will say,u can only used ur purchased copy for HOME consumption. And now that rally was not HOME,or was it?

[bluzz]

Obviously VH does not want the money because they said to stop using it!

Every politician knows that they have to get approval to use someones song, but, it appears that most good musicians are dems and won;lt let that old gas bag use there material, so ya get what we had today....a­n old pathetic, out of touch hot head stealing copyrighted material

[prettychicago]

It's all about copyright law. And McSame is not following it...

It doesn't matter if it becomes a hot song and gets a ton of downloads. It hurts the reputation of the band, as far as they are concerned. And they do have a choice in who uses it.

It's the law. But why would McSame care about that? Did you not study political science and law? If not, then do your research.

[Zoolie]

Does anyone else find Palin's voice impossible to listen to? They should have played music WHILE she was speaking.

[UnionJok]

Shrillary.

[DEMTRUPATRIOTS]

worse than shrill...s­he sounds like frances mcdormand in "fargo"...­..really dorky

[IzzyCA]

Jon Stewart said the same thing! That her voice was going to break that glass ceiling.

Looking forward to her debate with Biden.

[JiminNC]

And what is he trying to lick in that photo? Is that at Sturgis?

[JiminNC]

Sounds like McCopyrigh­tViolation needs to get in touch with a foreign band like ABBA or learn about the "work for hire" section of copyright law.

[DMSmith]

Problem with Republicans is that they truly think they own/should own everything. Including YOUR freedom. This is, frankly, not surprising. I hope VH sues.

[RockySoldier]

deja vu. i was actually wondering today what haggar thought of mccain's using 'right now'. funny how it's an article tonight.