According to a statement issued this morning, Dave Grohl and his Fighting Foo aren't the least bit pleased with John McCain's unauthorized use of one of the band's signature hits, "My Hero," at his campaign rallies:
"This isn't the first time the McCain campaign has used a song without making any attempt to get approval or permission from the artist. It's frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property. The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song. We hope that the McCain campaign will do the right thing and stop using our song--and start asking artists' permission in general!"
As the band points out (and as Idolator elaborates on before sliding off into a hilarious Varsity Blues tangent), this is not the first time McCain's gotten into some permissionless song usage trouble. Foo Fighters join the ranks of Jackson Browne, Heart and Van Halen.
No word yet on whether or not Grohl and Co.'s anger will be enough to bring them out of their recently reported hiatus.
Related links:
News: Dave Grohl says Foo Fighters will take a break
Ctrl-V: Top 10 new band names, per the 2008 Vice Presidential debate
Ctrl-V: The Story of the 2008 Presidential Election in Song: A Playlist
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ProTip: They don't need permission as long as they pay the public performance fee.
Yes it is an odd system, but this is a non-story; bands know this, and I'm getting tired of these statements with all this faux-outrage.
It justs seem like it should be a professional or business courtesy to ask permission to use part of an artist's song, whether it's advertising, political, or non-profit groups. I would be upset if someone just co-opted my work. I don't blame the band at all. Their outrage is justified, and not "faux".