Online News Website

Tom Petty to Bachmann: Don't Use My Song

Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Famer, Tom Petty, apparently doesn’t cotton to Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann using one of his songs for her campaign.

Bachmann, who has lately climbed in GOP polls and recently announced her presidential campaign, used Petty’s 1977 song “American Girl” at her announcement event in Iowa. Petty responded with a cease-and-desist order.

The development is the latest in the bizarre history of Petty’s famous rock song, which has also become, for many, associated with “Silence of the Lambs,” as it is played before a kidnapping scene. The song is also the subject of an urban legend that posits the song’s lyrics refer to a coed suicide at the University of Florida. Petty laughingly denied the legend.

Petty vs. Bachman is the latest instance of a musician opposing use of his/her music by a political campaign. Sometimes the objections arise from the personal philosophy of the rocker, other times it may simply be a copyright issue. However, even the last few years are replete with similar incidents, with the traditionally left-leaning performers taking especial umbrage at Republicans co-opting their tunes:

-         The Wilson sisters (who comprised ’80s hit-makers Heart) vocally opposed their song “Barracuda” being used to introduce Sarah Palin at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

-         Tom Scholz, founder of Boston, sent a strongly worded letter to 2008 GOP presidential candidate and bass player Mike Huckabee, asking the former Arkansas governor to stop playing “More Than a Feeling” at campaign events.

-         Also during the 2008 presidential race, rockers The Foo Fighters objected to John McCain using their song “My Hero.” The band said McCain’s use of the song “perverts” and “tarnishes” its original sentiment.

-         Going back to 1984, Bruce Springsteen objected to Ronald Reagan using the anthem “Born in the USA” during the president’s 1984 re-election campaign.

Not all of the opposition is targeted at Republicans, though. In 2010 David Byrne sued Senate hopeful Charlie Crist, a Democrat, for using the Talking Heads song “Road to Nowhere” to poke fun at Republican opponent (and eventual victor) Marco Rubio. Even Obama was criticized when, during his 2008 rallies, he would use the Sam & Dave classic “Hold On, I’m Comin’”. Sam Moore apparently did not approve.