Foo Fighters Tell McCain: Stop Using Our Song

NEW YORK — Yet another band is complaining about John McCain's use of their song to promote his campaign. This time, it's the Foo Fighters.

The rockers sent out a missive telling the Republican presidential candidate to stop using "My Hero." They said they learned it was being use through news reports.

"The saddest thing about this is that `My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential," the band said in a statement. "To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song."

The band noted it's not the first time McCain has been told to stop using a song. John Mellencamp, Heart and Jackson Browne have also complained _ Browne even filed a lawsuit.

Soul legend Sam Moore also has asked the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to stop using "Soul Man."

"The McCain-Palin campaign respects copyright. Accordingly, this campaign has obtained and paid for licenses from performing rights organizations, giving us permission to play millions of different songs, including `My Hero,'" said McCain-Palin spokesman Brian Rogers.

Comments

[KCFreedom]

At this point, the only music the McCain campaign can use without legal action is Muzak, "Deutchland Uber Alles", and Toby Keith (I still don't believe Toby's claim he is a Democrat).

[DuPageDem]

How about "Pop Goes The Weasel?"

[AlfredoENewman]

Maybe he repented. It is not too late for repentance for repubs.

[senorplaid]

Somehow I don't see McCain coming and going to and from the stage to tunes such as I Am the Bullgod and Cat Scratch Fever, by known righties Kid Rock and Ted Nugent.

[KCFreedom]

I have heard that Kid Rock is doing some sort of patriotic and anti-drug commercials lately.

Could that be his "community service" for the big drug bust in his tour bus a couple of years ago?

Kid Rock. Will be playing Branson, MO someday. When my generation is retired. Sigh.

[ersf]

McCain should not use songs that are not about him. But he uses the word Maverick, and that is really not what he is either. He should use some red state music: Christian Country, Modern Country and even reach for some blue grass. Wait, I like old timey blue grass: he shouldn't be allowed to use bluegrass!!!

The reality is, is that McCain will take whatever it is he can buy, rebrand and USE. That is his true style.

[Mattyhorn]

Yet another example of the GOP taking things that don't belong to them and distorting the work of artists to suit their own pernicious ends. I hope Grohl & Co. continue to speak out against this bastardization of their work.

"permission to play millions of songs," huh? Wow...that­'s a lot.

[ohioan73]

LMAO! Why the heck was Barack using "Soul Man" by Sam Moore? What does having "soul" have to do with being the president? Is he trying to scare off the "hockey moms"? LOL! He should have used "Superbad" by James Brown. Its a better song, IMO. I am literally LMAO right now. I'm going to enjoy the new administration (that will be hopefully Dems).

They should have used "Soul Man" when Bill Clinton shows up. That would be hysterical!

I saw some comedy show (maybe Colbert or Stewart) that was teasing McCain about not being able to use ANYONES songs, so he resorted to using "Pop Goes the Weasel". LOL!

Obama/Biden 08

[cthomp7280]

The world's most cruel practical joke would be for Barack Obama to preceed his Nov. 4th victory speech with George Clinton's "Paint The White House Black"...

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO

My Prediction: Sean Hannity would use the "N" word on the air, "O'Really" would call for all non-blacks to hide in bunkers, and FAUX News would blast the headline "Armageddon Is Here..."

Too Funny!

[kiran888]

as a nonwhite and a nonblack , ya'll have issues with race too much. Let's get past all -this and realize that Barack is after all half -white and raised by white people. But you are right about hannity, o'reilly and faux news station.

the interesting thing is that O'reilly is irish and he should be understanding of racism when the irish first started coming to this country they were mistreated.

[Economike]

How bout Parliments Chocolate City.

[Whinger]

John, if you had the good manners to ask permission to use copyright material you may just get permission!
May I suggest you use Passive by A Perfect Circle, that would get the message home!

[etcetc]

I'm for Obama.

But McCain has the right to play the song if he paid a fee to use it, and he did. It is rare that an artist owns the copyright to their song. The record label owns it.

The Foo Fighters are asking him not to play it, and their request will probably be honored because it is bad press in general to be told my an artist "my song about a hero does not apply to YOU!". But the Foo Fighters have no legal rights to ask.

This is very common for the Republican ticket. Every election they use a song and the artist asks them not to play it. That's gotta hurt. Not only are the "uncool", but artists are so offended by the party they think their songs have nothing to do with republicans.

[SidFishes]

Actually, etcetc, the record company might own the recording but the songwriter (Dave Grohl) owns the publishing (i.e. the song itself). In Foo Fighters case I believe they have their own label so they own the recording as well. It's kind of an arcane distinction, not one most people are aware of.

Glad you are for Obama but why so eager to talk about something you know nothing about?

[Obamasneighbor]

Wrong the label( most times) owns the copyright to the recording not the song.

[Obamasneighbor]

Grohl owns the song and the recording (Roswell Records which he licensed to Capitol Records.

[Torgo]

If McCain is going to steal a Foo Fighers song, it should probably be Learn To Fly.

[SemiRock]

ZING!!

[jahyarain]

awwwwwwwwwwww!! that was just TOO perfect!

[kappa08]

Face it Republicans YOU ARE HOPELESSLY UNCOOL.
Country music is all thats left for you...what­? Nobody likes country. *sigh* good luck with that.

[Fromageball]

It's funny how every song the McCain campaign uses gets the same reaction(besides "stop using our songs!!").­..but every artist asks them to quit using the song because of the lyrics being completely opposite to the campaign.

I think the republicans need to start their own bands so that they will have a supply of "friendly" music...ob­viously none of the big musicians want you to be using them.

PS - McCain, you look really comfortable holding that child, and the child looks pretty happy too. Sorry though, you're not going to get the same reactions that Obama gets, with you it's just creepy.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Maybe he should stick to dead artists- like Patsy Cline, the one who wrote "Crazy"...­.

[adrianinflorida]

Or, another Patsy Cline song, "I Fall To Pieces", would also be very appropriate for the McSam/Failin campaign

[DebB]

Sorry to turn into "fact checker" here but actually Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" - but I agree the title does fit !!! The "I Fall To Pieces" comment is pretty funny too - he seems to "fall to pieces" every time Sarah Palin is near!! But, I am a country music fan and I would hate to see him ruin those songs for me because I like Patsy Cline songs.

[armadillious2002]

Hey repubs - just what part of "don't use our song" do you not understand? People view you as lepers and don't want you contaminating their stuff.

[AtomiClash]

that's terribly unfair to lepers.

[Ivygreen]

Foo Fightes want you to vote!
Make sure you are currently registered in your county. Please help others do this as well, pass it along!
Many of the battleground states have purged their voter registrations as recently as August.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/us/politics/09voting.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[Kyuzo]

The reaction by the McCain campaign is what really defines this story: "We paid to use the song, so screw what the artists want."

I guess you can only play Toby Keith and Ted Nugent so much....

[whatsthatsound]

Ted Nugent! What a missing link that guy is!

[ICanHasDemocracy]

"Cat Scratch Fever" and "Heads Will Roll" only go so far....he'­s still got Wango Tango up his sleeve...

[koluidj]

After the second debate McCain passed the nerves! In recent interviews about debates it appear that he does not believe in their victory - http://tinyurl.com/45dhuw!!
Highly recommended!

[koluidj]

McCain passed the nerves! In recent interviews it seems that he does not believe in their victory - http://tinyurl.com/45dhuw!! Highly recommended!

[likeicare]

The little kid in the pic with McSame, looks scared to death of him!

Like they say, "Out of the mouths of babes . . . "

[Fanboy615]

No, it's just old man breath....

[LeftLeanWing]

and old man Nose Hair

[HomerJFong]

I thought McCain was sizing up a snack...