Bon Jovi Angry At Palin

10/16/08 1:23pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Jon Bon Jovi is the latest musician to express anger at U.S. Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin for using one of his songs in her campaigns, which he says she's been doing without his permission.

Palin used Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home" during her rallies this week. On Thursday, Bon Jovi said in a statement that he does not approve of Palin using the song and she did not ask for his permission, especially since Bon Jovi threw a $30,000 U.S. per person fundraising dinner for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama last month.

"We are surprised to hear that our song, 'Who Says You Can't Go Home,' was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today," the statement reads.

"We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past 25 years.

"This song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the de facto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities.

"Although we were not asked, we do not approve of the use of 'Home.'"

Earlier this week, Boston musician Samuel Bartley Steele said he was suing Bon Jovi for $400 billion. He alleges that Bon Jovi's "I Love This Town" from last year's Lost Highway stole the lyrics from his Boston Red Sox-inspired song "(Man I Really) Love This Team."

Bon Jovi is not the only musician to recently express disproval of the John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign's approval-be-damned use of music. Earlier this week, The Rolling Stones released a statement saying McCain had not asked permission to use their song "Start Me Up" at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania. Last week, the Foo Fighters were angry that McCain was using the band's "My Hero" at his rallies.

Last month, Heart's Nancy and Ann Wilson sent Palin a cease-and-desist letter after they found out Palin had been using their track "Barracuda" without their permission. ("Sarah Barracuda" is one of Palin's nicknames.)

"I feel completely fucked over," Nancy Wilson said in September. "Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image."

But no one's gone as far in their displeasure as Jackson Browne. Back in August, Browne said he was suing McCain for using his "Running On Empty" without permission.