Jaded Times

Man, if McCain’s approach to music licensing is anything like his approach to the economy, I half expect the Hamburgler to be a crucial voice in domestic economic policy. In his latest act of artistic theft, the campaign has once again appropriated music without permission, this time pilfering from the significantly less ancient Foo Fighters. FINALLY, a candidate who isn’t hiding his criminal acts; think he’ll be this honest when it comes to Iraq?

The press release from Nasty Little Man (Foo Fighters’ publicist):

FOO FIGHTERS DENOUNCE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THEIR MUSIC BY MCCAIN CAMPAIGN

Having received confirmed press reports that John McCain has been using Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” as the latest in a number of unauthorized theme songs at his campaign rallies without seeking permission from the band, its management, record label or publisher, Foo Fighters have issued the following statement:

“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!”

Earlier this year McCain used songs by artist John Mellencamp without permission, and this most recent act of copyright infringement follows rock band Heart sending a cease and desist order to the McCain/Palin campaign for use of their song “Barracuda” and rock legend  Jackson Browne announcing he is filing suit against the McCain campaign for their use of his song “Running on Empty”.  At least he’s getting closer to the right decade, though this may just be the latest attempt at McCain trying to nab the youth vote, most of whom haven’t paid for music in several years.