I received an e-mail this afternoon from Nasty Little Man, the Foo Fighters’ publicity company, with the subject line: "FOO FIGHTERS DENOUNCE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THEIR MUSIC BY MCCAIN CAMPAIGN." The e-mail offers a statement from the band, which concludes:
"We hope that the McCain campaign will do the right thing and stop using our song—and start asking artists’ permission in general!"
Foo Fighters’ "My Hero" is McCain’s latest victim: Other artists run down by McCain’s "Straight Rock Express" include John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne and Heart, who penned this fantastically obscene response to McCain’s use of "Barracuda" to introduce running mate Sarah Palin. In fact, Heart’s letter concludes with a promise to donate "100 percent of the licensing fees to Barack Obama. Seriously." I wonder if Ann and Nancy Wilson know that McCain’s daughter Meghan—who runs the music, culture and politics blog McCainBlogette.com—made "Barracuda" her song of the day following the Palin announcement? I hope they go crazy on her.
John McCain: Certainly not the Foo Fighters’ hero.
I’m yet to read about musicians busting Obama’s chops for his campaign’s choice of tunes (including cuts by Stevie Wonder and Ben Harper). What’s more, the Decemberists, Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire and My Morning Jacket have all pitched in with live support for Obama events. (Although MMJ just cancelled a few appearances after frontman Jim James took a fall. Details here.)
What do you think: Is the Obama campaign inherently more musician-friendly than the McCain crew? What would you pick for their respective theme songs?
Last, in the spirit of the election season, pledge your vote at Wilco’s website and download the band’s live cover of "I Shall Be Released" with Fleet Foxes.
