Tom Petty won't back Michele Bachmann's use of 'American Girl'

StarTribune.com ^ | 6/28/11 | Chris Riemenschneider

[Freedom4US]

Is that what “cease and desist” means? “Stop purchasing and playing my recordings, netting me a profit everytime the song is played, or I’ll sue!”

Were I part of a jury, it wouldn’t get much sympathy.

[pgkdan]

Tom Petty has sent the Minnesota congresswoman a cease-and-desist order after she used his 1977 classic "American Girl" as background music at her kickoff rally Monday in Waterloo, Iowa, a source close to the singer has confirmed.

I thought after 25 years songs became public domain. Can anyone confirm?

[Freedom4US]

What “right” is that?

[Tallguy]

Isn’t that a Jim/Roger McGwinn song? Use his version. Sounds almost the same anyway. Take that, Tommy!

[Dr. Thorne]

Petty knows three chords and lately he has forgotten at least one.

[cableguymn]

Lots of good county songs out there with many artists behind those songs that would LOVE to see them used in this manor.

Petty Tom can FOAD.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Ya, remember Bill Clinton and “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” by Fleetwood Mac?

If I recall correctly, the group Heart didn’t want Sarah Palin to use the song “Barracuda” in the ‘08 campaign.

In the realm of music, it appears that Democrats can use whatever music they want, but Republicans may be forbidden by the good liberal musicians from having the music’s image sullied by being associated with a Republican.

[longtermmemmory]

this is just cya of the musician. Does he even OWN the song?

[nascarnation]

Oh heavens no.
Remember how much Michael Jackson paid for the Beatles catalog?

[cableguymn]

I’d use the Taylor Swift version of it anyways. I never liked Petty Tom’s voice.

[CaspersGh0sts]

Republicans should just avoid using any contemporary music because 99% of the authors are going to be drug-addled liberals and will refuse permission to use some song they wrote 40 years ago, thinking this demonstrates political sophistication instead of just being , well, petty.

You need to listen to more country music and less of the empty-headed, valueless junk on top 40 radio. I know multiple people in the country music industry, and they're far more tea party types and put their families first then anything that's been festering in Los Angeles.

[NoDRodee]

I hear the reason is because he wants to reserve it for Sarah.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Don’t know the precise number, but it is much longer than 25 years...

[subterfuge]

‘My name’s Joe, I’m the CEO!

I’m the man, that makes the big wheels roll!’

[PreciousLiberty]

I’m at a complete loss as to why these artists think they have control over when/where their material is played.

I buy the rights, I can play it. The artists have their money...they can bug off.

The Palin Heart/Barracuda kerfuffle was equally inane.

[RexBeach]

She can use it if she pays the ASCAP fees.

Mr. Petty - a kneejerk socialist.

[TennesseeGirl]

Same thing happened during W’s campaign. What I want to know is this. Why do these highly paid handlers for Republican campaigns put their candidates in the crosshairs for bad publicity? I’m assuming the campaigns have already paid royalty fees, but left-wing artists like Petty and Fleetwood Mac make such a BIG deal out of smacking down these candidates. The MSM eats it up and regurgitates it ad nausem. Geez, pick artists who lean right and are like-minded.

[MarineBrat]

If TomBoy was a country musician, he could be Dixie Chicked.

[GlockThe Vote]

Probably not _ most of these people are flaming leftists.

[pgkdan]

You’re right. Where did I get 25 years from, I wonder??