Posted on 02/19/2021 12:25:43 PM PST by nickcarraway
In recent years, it’s become common for rock artists to object after a political figure uses their music without permission. In many cases, the artist isn’t able to prevent such use, because blanket licenses allow it. However, one of the earliest notable examples played out differently when the Pretenders’ track “My City Was Gone” was appropriated by controversial right-wing broadcaster Rush Limbaugh.
Limbaugh, who died this week at 70, picked the 1982 Pretenders song as the theme for his self-titled radio show in 1984, saying he liked the instantly recognizable bass line in the opening phrases. He didn’t air the part that included band leader Chrissie Hynde’s lyrics, which were at odds with his own views. They explored the destruction of traditional American life through the kind of policies he supported: “I went back to Ohio / But my pretty countryside / Had been paved down the middle / By a government that had no pride.”
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Because Limbaugh was subject to radio-broadcast regulations, Hynde was within her rights to pursue him for misuse and prevent its continuation – but she didn’t, and she had a good reason. Her dad, Melville "Bud" Hynde, was a Limbaugh fan. She believed in a live-and-let-live approach to politics, even though it sometimes led to family arguments.
That changed in 1997 after Limbaugh told the press that he liked playing “My City Was Gone” because “it was [written by] an environmentalist, animal-rights wacko and was an anti-conservative song.” He added: “It is anti-development, anti-capitalist, and here I am going to take a liberal song and make fun of them at the same time.”
His comment led to Hynde enforcing her rights, but even then she offered a middle ground: No action would result from his breach of licensing if he forwarded all due royalties to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals campaign.
She explained: “In light of Rush Limbaugh's vocal support of PETA's campaign against the Environmental Protection Agency's foolish plan to test some 3,000 chemicals on animals, I have decided to allow him to keep my song 'My City Was Gone' as his signature tune and to donate all proceeds from the deal to further PETA's efforts in that regard.” The amount was reported to be $100,000 at the time.
In an open letter to President Donald Trump in 2020, Hynde reinforced her view. “The other day when you gave that award to Rush Limbaugh, my father would have been so delighted," she wrote. "He loved listening to Rush, which is why I allowed my song 'My City Was Gone' to be used on his radio show. My father and I didn't always see eye-to-eye. We argued a lot. But isn't that the American way? The right to disagree without having your head chopped off?”
In later years, Limbaugh would clash with other rock artists, notably a cease-and-desist legal bid from Rush and a round condemnation from Peter Gabriel in 2012, when Limbaugh called rights campaigner Sandra Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” for saying women should have easier access to contraceptives.
The episode led to a rare apology from the normally resolute broadcaster, who'll be remembered for denying climate change, supporting the claim that Trump won the 2020 election, describing predominantly Black sport teams as “gangs” and dismissing feminism as a way “to allow unattractive women access to the mainstream of society.”
he episode led to a rare apology from the normally resolute broadcaster, who’ll be remembered for denying climate change, supporting the claim that Trump won the 2020 election, describing predominantly Black sport teams as “gangs” and dismissing feminism as a way “to allow unattractive women access to the mainstream of society.”
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All true
Her drummer is still alive.
Yes— they have the right to stipulate how their writings/songs may be used in public performance. It is called licensing (mechanical and otherwise). An example of someone who does not allow anybody (especially not car commercials like Bob Dylan has and then some) is... Tom Waits.
BTW- to FReepers here, recall that Peter Gabriel’s rant on the Sandra Fluke commentary-— welllll, ole Peter Gabriel is one whacked dude as well— a huge supporter of
the so called “Founder of Earth Day” — Ira Einhorn who murdered his girlfriend and left her body in a trunk in his apt. to “compost”.
.... “A 2011 article posted on NBC News’ website is titled: “Earth Day co-founder killed, composted girlfriend.” The opening of the story reads: “Ira Einhorn was on stage hosting the first Earth Day event at the Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on April 22, 1970. [Several] years later, police raided his closet and found the ‘composted’ body of his ex-girlfriend inside a trunk.”
.....Einhorn was able to procure the services of famed local attorneyARLEN SPECTER as his defense counsel. Specter, who went on to serve decades in the U.S. Senate as a RINO Republican from Pennsylvania and later converted to the Democratic Party that he better aligned with, managed to get Einhorn’s bail set at only $40,000. Again utilizing his network of connected progressive supporters, Einhorn had Barbara Bronfman, a wealthy Seagram heiress, post bail for him, and then he promptly fled to Europe. He jumped bail.
Peter Gabriel gave large amounts of concert proceeds to Einhorn’s anti-extradition efforts while Einhorn hid in Europe.
One very large example of the so called “Green” enviro-whackos who really are murderous RED Communists.
Einhorn died in prison for life, finally in April 2020.
PETA- People Eating Tasty Animals!
Many protested when The Donald played their songs at rallies.
Which sing? Why?
“Why Learn from History if you can just Re-Write it?”—
Well written article on Ira Einhorn and Peter Gabriel.
Never forget the ultra RINO Arlen Specter Sen. PA- who switched parties finally. Also never forget, Arlen Specter—
Was assistant counsel for the Warren Commission (JFK assassination investig.), then Repub Sen. from PA- good guy on 2nd Amendment-— but
Pro- “Card Check” unionizing of everything.
obamaumaocare that was coming- he was all for it- switched sides.
As Chair of the Senate Intel Committee wanted Jonathan Pollard pardoned.
Finally- switched parties and lost his dem primary to Sestak who LOST to the SUPER RINO—
Pat Toomey (same noodle middle of the road pussy- voted FOR the conviction of Trump for the ridiculous “incitement” charges.) Why did he do this?— Why— because he’s not running for re-election in 2022. Pat Toomey the inheritor of Arlen Spector the very FAKE Republican “conservative”- carrying on the MORON tradition of un-Constitutional crapola from Philadelphia. (Never forgot Specter talking about Scottish Law— in the well of the Senate- a real jacka@@ loser).
“She believed in a live-and-let-live approach to politics, even though it sometimes led to family arguments.”
Isn’t ‘live & let live’ what does NOT lead to family arguments?!
He did call her a slut. And he was right. She wasn’t lobbying for “access” to birth control, she wanted government to pay for it and, IIRC, she wanted funding for outrageous amounts of the stuff - hence the “slut.”
I assume Chrissie Hynde lives in a house. I would reckon it's a large house, given her financial success in the music business.
The land her house was built on was likely earlier occupied by grasshoppers, crickets, frogs and squirrels (to name a few).
Take a look at her driveway. Paved "right down the middle."
I guess she had "no pride" either.
It all depends on the category. There are a whole host of categories from public play, soundtracks, radio play, Muzak, etc. for example it can be used in certain movies, but not pornos.
But, for the most part—if you want to pay the fee, they can’t bitch.
It depends some bands split the royalties others only have the songwrite get the whole pie. In a lot of cases whoever owns the publishing rights keeps all the royalties.
when Limbaugh called rights campaigner Sandra Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” for saying women should have easier access to contraceptives.
What bull ....as both a Pretenders fan, with that song a favorite of mine before Rush...and as a long time Rush listen... I can tell you as fact..
Rush has told the whole story on that song..and has played the whole song when telling the story
Sandra Fluke. ‘Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask who can you do for your c*** fee !
You can also hear that tune in “American Splendor” movie which was about Cleveland native Harvey Pekar. Tune was used probably because it originated in the Cleveland area. BTW, Pekar lived close to where we did when I was a little kid in Cleveland.
That's not accurate. He should have never said that, and I knew as soon as I heard it live that it was going to be a bad next several days for him...that was one of the few times he was condemned for something he actually said rather than it being something fabricated. However, he was commenting on an article where the headline itself said that she had testified that people on campus were having so much sex that they were struggling to stay afloat financially and they should be provided free birth control by a university...and that she could see the pain on people's faces and knew it was from them not being able to afford birth control and it wasn't being provided to them for free - not merely "for saying women should have easier access to contraceptives".
Exactly.
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