The female trailblazers of 70’s rock and founders of Heart, Ann and Nancy Wilson, were not happy when they saw footage of the Republican National Convention using their classic song “Barracuda” as a theme song for Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The sisters issued a “cease and desist” letter to the RNC, warning them not to use the song again.
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.
UPDATE: Twenty minutes after we posted this story, the GOP ended the evening after McCain’s speech with the song, “Barracuda.”
The Wilson sisters join a growing list of musicians who don’t want their songs associated with politics – particularly the Republican party. It started back in the 80s when Ronald Reagan tried using Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” for his campaign song. The McCain camp alone has received three other cease and desist letters, from Van Halen (for his use of the song “Right Now”), John Mellencamp (for the song “Pink Houses”), and Orleans (for the song “Still the One.”) Mike Huckabee also got slapped down by Mellencamp for his use of “ROCK in the USA.” Mellencamp stated in a Newsweek article that he’s an Obama supporter.
Maybe the Republicans should ask artists before appropriating their songs or hire artists to write songs for them – John Rich of the country western group Big & Rich has penned a song for the Republican presidential candidate John McCain called…wait for it…”Raising McCain.”
