Van Halen's Not Running With The GOP

August 29, 2008

Van Halen's Not Running With The GOP • Like so many bands before them, Van Halen do not approve of their music being used on the presidential campaign trail (McCain used "Right Now" as an entrance theme in Ohio this morning). "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given," says VH management. "They're not political, they're just rock and roll." Also Sarah Palin's favorite meal is moose stew.

Posted at 3:35 PM
Tags: John McCain | Van Halen

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12 Comments

Does any politician clear their music selection with the artists beforehand? (I doubt it considering it's fair use.) So, do these artists just disapprove of the use or do the ever send cease & desist letters? I get confused, because nowadays it almost seems like good press for a band to just say no to whomever uses their song, no matter the affiliation.

Posted by: Chadams at 08/29/08 6:42 PM | Reply
Score = 0

I haven't seen any video of the song being used by McCain, but unless it was a very short clip it definitely doesn't fall under Fair Use guidelines.

Posted by: grayflannelsuit

in reply to Chadams's comment at 08/30/08 12:47 PM | Reply
Score = 1

I don't think it was used in any kind of clip, they just played over the speakers at the rally Palin spoke at. I'm guessing they don't need permission for that sort of thing or VH would be suing.

Posted by: Stephen B in reply to grayflannelsuit's comment at 08/30/08 7:17 PM | Reply
Score = 0

i liked it better when mccain was using 'running on empty' by jackson browne, before jackson told him to fuck off. i mean, that pretty much sums up mccain's campaign anyway.

Posted by: rone at 08/29/08 8:13 PM | Reply
Score = 3

Sarah Palin's kids are named "Willow", "Piper", and "Trig".

Posted by: Frodo at 08/30/08 5:23 PM | Reply
Score = 1

II'm fairly certain Sammy Hagar is a Republican and probably wouldn't give a shit, though I'm guessing he no longer has a say in these matters.

Posted by: Stephen B at 08/30/08 7:14 PM | Reply
Score = 0

Hagar's cool with it! PHEW
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=103798

Posted by: Jules at 08/31/08 12:51 PM | Reply
Score = -1

Where is the RIAA backlash from this?
I thought so.

Posted by: hp at 09/01/08 9:18 AM | Reply
Score = 0

It's such a shitty song I think they should take whatever airplay they can get.
Just because McCain plays the song doesn't mean the Republican party endorses Cabo Wabo tequila or Sammy over Dave, it just means they have bad taste in music.

Posted by: Philco Brothers at 09/01/08 9:23 AM | Reply
Score = 0

If they were going to boost a Van Halen song, it should have been, "Hot For Teacher"...

Posted by: Captain Spork at 09/01/08 4:02 PM | Reply
Score = 1

running with the devil to obvious for sarah to come out to?

Posted by: canyouhelpme at 09/02/08 12:43 AM | Reply
Score = 3

So I'm assuming the ASCAP will be getting involved in this matter now since, according to the smug FAQ on their website (http://www.ascap.com/licensing/licensingfaq.html), "while we may have emotionally adopted [a] song, it still legally belongs to the songwriter who created it, and the music publisher who markets it. When you use other people's property, you need to ask permission." Surely, if they're taking such a hard line against small unlicensed venues in, say, Baltimore (http://www.citypaper.com/music/story.asp?id=15510) - like the one my DJ partners and I declined to play at tomorrow night because we were informed at the last minute that we essentially wouldn't be able to play basic shit like New Order or M.I.A. (and you better believe I'm not trying to get sued for playing "Blue Monday") - then a major political party with barrels and barrels of pork at its disposal should be no different. We're all upstanding citizens here, and we want the rule of law to be enforced. I'll notify the ASCAP immediately so they can begin drafting a license for the RNC. May God bless the United States.

Posted by: Dave Tat at 09/05/08 11:27 AM | Reply
Score = 0