Apparently, Ann and Nancy Wilson are suing the McCain/Palin campaign over use of "Barracuda"

TMZ ^ | 09/04/08 | TMZ

[Prime Mover]

Ann and Nancy Wilson are pissed at the Republican Party and have fired off a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign.

Specifically, the Heart women are upset that the GOP has used their classic "Barracuda" as a theme song for Sarah Palin. TMZ obtained a statement from Heart's rep, who says "The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission."

The statement goes on: "We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."

We're told Ann was watching TV today and heard the song at the convention when Palin was touted.

[Hildy]

I am positive the McCain camp did everything legal. This is just a shoutout to their friends that their still good liberal soldiers.

[ETL]

That’s even better!

[PzLdr]

The latter. Still has the best pipes I’ve ever heard on a female rock ‘n roll singer. And back in the day, she was a babe!

Nancy [the redhead, and formerly the blonde] plays lead guitar, and sings harmony and the occasional lead [”These Drams”]

[VeniVidiVici]

I do think Ann and Roseanne, and probably Michael Moore, do hang out from time-to-time. If only to compare Twinkie recipes.

I like that chick sitting in the first row getting ready to take a pic with her PDA. Sorry, darlin'. You're going to need a wider screen than that.

[skimask]

Paul Kantner played a pretty good guitar too.

[Walkingfeather]

Tell heart that we will pay royalties on the average purchase of their song BEFORE we played it this week. Because you can bet if 40 million heard it my bet 1% down load it. THat would be more money than that song has made in 10 years.

[FlingWingFlyer]

After the Jackson Browne fiasco, I’m pretty sure the McCain lawyers have looked into playing music and how to keep from being sued. I think the Wilson’s are just spewing this garbage to get a little much needed attention.

[PzLdr]

Guess they can. Chrissie Hinds of the Pretenders was going to have Limbaugh stop using his theme song [one of their tunes], but changed her mind after a sitdown, or e-mail exchange or letters.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Maybe they should change their name from “Heart” to “FAT”.

[NonValueAdded]

OMG, I had such a crush on her. Now it looks like she could crush me.

[boop]

Hmmmm.... liberalism must be the cause of these formerly gorgeous singers becoming ugly hags. I weep over my once beautiful Stevie Nicks. She’s a big time liberal too.

[BlueMondaySkipper]

I wonder if every Wedding DJ now needs to get “approval” for playing songs at social events???

Yes

Either the DJ has to pay themselves, or they can sometimes be covered under the license of the venue.

[dan1123]

If a tune is sold to and marketed by a record company with royalties paid to the artists, what “right” do they have to sue? (could the Hendrix estate sue Muzak?)

Yeah, I believe Epic Records owns the copyright, not Ann or Nancy.

[SuziQ]

There was a comment at that site that said that Ann and Nancy Wilson are Gretchen's aunts. Is that right? She sure SOUNDS like whichever one of them sang the original.

Oh, by the way, isn't that the same music that's used for the Honda Odyssey "Rejoice with the van gods" commercial? Reckon they're pi$$ed about that company using the song? ;o)

[rottndog]

Maybe they should change their name from “Heart” to “FAT”.

I think "Fart" would be appropriate too.

[DB]

In rock, Ann is the number one vocalist (Dog and Butterfly and before) for me followed by Annie Haslam of Renaissance. But if you include all music, I’ll go with Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance.

[PowerPro]

I love LOVE Heart. I know they’re libs but I can set aside my irritation about their political views (I have to do that with a lot of the talent I enjoy) and enjoy their mad skillz. Ann Wilson had, IMHO, one of the best voices in rock history and Nancy rocks not only on vocals but on guitar.

I’m curious though whether or not they have a real case here about how the song is used or if this is mostly for show like some here suggest.

[ETL]

Ha! I was wondering about that. Libs hate it when their songs are being used by republicans.

And some republicans, thinking it's a patriot song, still play Bruce Springsteen's 'Born In The USA' at their events. The song is actually anti-American, as is Springsteen himself.

"Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man"

Bruce Springsteen's Political Lies of 2007:
http://www.bobbyshred.com/brucespringsteen07.html

[PzLdr]

Nancy wasn't overweight the last time I saw them. Annie, on the other hand...

What's really comical is the interviews I read where they complained about the sexism they had to put up with when Ann got heavy, and the record company got on her case. think they'd empathize a little with Gov. Palin.

[Drew68]

The owner of the copyright to the theme for Rush’s show hates that he uses it but he pays the ascap and can play any music he wants to...just like a radio station can.

Not quite. In 1999 Rush Limbaugh and songwriter Chrissy Hynde made an arrangement that Limbaugh can continue to use her song as long as he donates money to PETA which Hynde is a long-standing supporter of.

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