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

[DCtrain]

Awesome picture... it looks like he's doing a Gene Simmons impression

[DCtrain]

on second thought, is he throwing up?

[nikto]

I think "Runnin' With The Devil" would have been
the ideal anthem for McCain/Palin.

Truly apropos.

[70sFez]

Nailed it on the head!

[sb250guy]

Awesome!!!

[MeanGreenMachine]

Private Property?

Screw that!

[memphispaul]

For being the crowd that holds the power of personal property supposedly in such high regard, the republicans definitely do not show respect for the property of others.

[gevan]

Any song released while a Republican was in the White House is fair use property of the Republican Party and it's members. These whiny Hollywood type artists should just get over it.

[texastrixie]

What is so hard about asking bands, artists, and songwriters if you can use their music in a political context AHEAD OF TIME? You'd have to pay a licensing fee if you used it in a commercial, why is political usage any different. It does seem stupid to use music from someone who can turn around the next day and tell the world they wouldn't vote for the candidate in question for dog catcher. Tht's the only thing I hate about liking country music - its entirely or almost entirely a Republican music venue.

[jpginla]

I think it is fair use unless synced up with a picture in the context it was used today, because it was at a public event where the hall used probably pays a blanket license to the PRO. The only issue is the embarrassment at being called out by the band. Just negative publicity. The Jackson Browne usage is a bigger deal legally.

More importantly, McCain really, really looks his age next to a good-looking, much younger, woman.

[edgemo]

It's not fair use if it's used to promote a product, and that is certainly what they are doing...A lousy product, but a product none the less.

[sowhatdemos]

Because everyone that's cool would say NO! KKKKarl and his friends are above the law, remember?

[Agentlady007]

Is he throwing up in that picture?

[sistermoon]

Doesn't this campaign have any legal advisors? Repeat after me -YOU CAN'T USE AN ARTIST'S MUSIC WITHOUT HIS/HER PERMISSION!!!

[articfox]

What a great choice by McCain! Palin is bright and a quick study, no lack of experience!

Alaska loves her!

The way VH flips around with their emotions, they will probably play at the Rep Convention!

[ukulelebailey]

There's one Jackson Browne song that would have been appropriate to the McCain candidacy - "Running on Empty"

[genia]

LOL...LOL.....LOL

[memphispaul]

I thought with McCain's love of ABBA he would have walked out with "Dancing Queen" blaring...

[rockyersocksoff]

That's NOT a Van Halen song.

It's a Van Hagar song.

HUGE difference.

Like Sabbath with Dio.

Purely second rate.

[speeddeeps]

What about ''Big P!mp!n'' by jay z, after all mccane is a ''pimp'', just look at the way he is using Pal!in

[MoeSart]

BTW, Sammy Hagar wrote "Right Now".

Those are his words. Band wrote the music. Just because some Obama fan at Van Halens office answered the phone doesn't mean that's how Eddie feels about it.

Sammy will be at the Repub convention next week and I bet he sings the song.

[boycottrightwingthings]

Sammy Hagar SUCKS, he will NEVER be Van Halen to me! Just ask my brothers when we take a road trip and Sammy Hager's voice when he was with Van Halen comes on. I FREAK. I always say that David Lee Roth IS Van Halen. Hagar has ZERO talent, he runied the band for me. They change the channel, then we all laugh.

[repugnicansfearme]

Chill, Dude, I agree with you, but chill.

[sdskelton03]

Which singer fronts Van Halen shouldn't be that large an issue in your life bro'.

[TullyMars]

Perhaps the biggest mistake was the choice of THAT Van Halen song. "Drop Dead Legs" would have been more appropriate. McCain likes the beauty queens.

[edgemo]

Well... it is from the Album: For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Wonder if that is what McLimp is trying to recall from his one meeting with Palin?

[MoeSart]

Or, Van Halen could just be classy about it, like how Brooks & Dunn reacted to their song being used by Obama last night.

“Seems ironic that the same song Bush used at the Republican Convention last election would be used by Obama and the Democrats now. Very flattering to know our song crossed parties and potentially inspires all Americans.”

http://blog.cmt.com/2008-08-29/obama-uses-brooks-dunns-only-in-america-to-close-convention-speech/

[miatch]

That song was the only part of the convention that sucked.

[drumz]

Classy, just like McSame. The should sue the jerk!
You are deluded!

[boycottrightwingthings]

Our convention ROCKED. the music was consitantly awesome. There was Classical, R&B, country, something for everyone. The song we should play just like That idiot GW Bush is WE WON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN! ( not that I ever was, but some people were...big time, and they admitted it.)