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.”
Some musicians only clear their music by special arrangement?
She is a bit of a kook although I always appreciated her somewhat libertarian streak, but dear Lord that woman could sing!
I have always loved her voice.
Doubt he called Fluke a slut or prostitute, too easy.
The press still whitewashes crap
Sandra Fluke wanted governmwnt to PAY for her and all womems’ contraceptives. Not merely wanting more “access” to them.
She is a slut. And she wanted government to pay for her sexual appetite. But at the same time, not judge her, and stay out of her bedroom. And give her free govt funded abortions. But its her choice.
Nutty slut.
Rush used the music of “My City was Gone” - but never played even a second of Chrissy’s vocal. Shouldn’t the Pretenders (her band) be getting credit for the music played on Rush’s show?
What a load of bunk.
I think it’s mostly about the song writer, which she was. She is playing the rhythm guitar on the track, also.
They’re all dead, but her. I suppose their estate’s should get a piece. As I understand it, there are different royalty amounts for the credited writers of the music and lyrics vs the people who played on the track. The latter get much less.
She’s awesome and that’s a nice letter that she wrote to Trump.
I think a performer can add a clause to their ASCAP contract saying they have to be consulted before X type of use.
All four of the members who played on that track are alive. The two who died don’t play on it.
I always thought “Talk Of The Town” was one of the most underrated tunes from the 80s.
...and it wasn’t just that she wanted her contraceptives paid for. It was the exorbitant amount of contraceptives she claimed she needed to satisfy her voracious appetites. To the tune of 3 grand a year!!!!
He did. And later apologized for it.
Chrissie Hynde had a vegetarian restaurant
in her native Akron. It went out of
business. A couple times I visited two
friends in the Akron area and we
ate at the nearby Luigi’s (which
inspired an eatery in the Funky
Winkerbean comic strip).
When Hynde’s place went under I went
on FB with revised lyrics for the song.
“I went back to Ohio, but my restaurant
was gone..”
Gerry Casale of Devo did a panel at
a comic convention near Boston. Briefly chatting with him afterwards I
mentioned the restaurant (Devo hailing
for the Kent-Akron area).
“Yeah it was good but it just
didn’t attract business,” he told me.
He may have apologized, but he was right. She was a slut. Nobody needs that many contraceptives unless they are one.
There is still no answer one way or the other if Fluke WAS a participant in her college’s slut walk march.
She also went on an international vacation with her boyfriend and said she didn’t have money for the birf control.
He said it. I was listening when he did and my jaw nearly hit the steering wheel. He posed a question to the audience: "What does it say about the college coed Susan Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex."
I thought it was hilarious, because I didn't take him literally, but I absolutely knew that there would be liberal heads exploding over it in the lamestream media.
Isn’t Fluke the wacko slut who claimed she was spending $200 monthly on contraception?
That’s a bunch of condoms. Maybe the $200 included pads for her back and knee pads as well.
And James Honeyman-Scott the same for guitar. That solo on Kid is almost always playing on my brain's jukebox.....
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