Rush vs. Rand Paul and 5 other clashes between rock and politics
In the tradition of litigious musicians with policy concerns, the Canadian rock legends are suing Paul for blasting their music at his events
Will politicians never learn that you can't co-opt some aging rocker's music without consequences? Lawyers for the 1970s power band Rush have ordered Tea Party candidate Rand Paul to stop playing their song "The Spirit of Radio" to amp up rallies. (Listen to Rand Paul recite Rush lyrics at an event.) The Canadian trio and the Kentucky Senate candidate both have a fondness for libertarian ideas and Ayn Rand, but business is business, says Rush attorney Robert Farmer: "This is not a political issue — this is a copyright issue. We would do this no matter who it is." Here are some other candidates who ran afoul of their chosen song.
Heart vs. Sarah Palin
Song: "Barracuda"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sarah "Barracuda" Palin used the song to exit her big speech at the 2008 Republican National Convention, and Heart sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson were not amused. The McCain campaign got a cease-and-desist notice, and Ann Wilson sent a blistering note to Entertainment Weekly highlighting the "irony" of the GOPer's choice: "Sarah Palin's views and values in no way represent us as American women.... ["Barracuda"] was written in the late '70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women..."
Talking Heads vs. Charlie Crist
Song: "Road to Nowhere"
Frontman David Byrne sued Crist in May for using the song in a commercial against opponent Marco Rubio. He's seeking $1 million in damages. Crist pulled the ad, but Byrne says "the damage had already been done by it being out there. People that I knew had seen it." The Steve Miller Band asked Rubio to stop using "Take the Money and Run" to attack Crist, but didn't sue.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Foo Fighters, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, and Van Halen vs. John McCain
Songs: "My Hero"; "Our Country" and "Pink Houses"; "Running on Empty"; "Right Now"
McCain is the most remarkable repeat-offender in this arena. All of these performers told John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign to stop playing their songs, with Browne suing McCain and the Ohio Republican Party for $75,000 in damages. Other artists who sent cease-and-desist orders to McCain include ABBA, Chuck Berry, John Hall, comedian Mike Myers, and Frankie Valli.
Sam & Dave vs. Barack Obama
Song: "Hold On, I'm Comin'"
Soul legend Sam Moore told Obama to stop using the song at his campaign rallies. Moore said he wasn't endorsing anybody in the race. (In an interesting twist, however, Moore rewrote and re-recorded the Sam & Dave hit "Soul Man" as "Dole Man," used by Republican Bob Dole's campaign... until the song's publisher threatened a suit).
Tom Petty vs. George W. Bush
Song: "I Won't Back Down"
Petty threatened to sue Bush during the 2000 campaign if he didn't stop using the song, since he believed it constituted an endorsement. Bush's campaign at first resisted, then agreed to stop. Petty then played the song at the house of Bush's rival, Al Gore, moments after Gore conceded the fraught election; Tipper Gore played drums.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published