It’s an election year, which means a steady stream of musicians asking candidates — usually Republicans — to stop playing their music at campaign rallies. Now comes R.E.M., which today demanded Fox News stop its “unlicensed and unauthorized” use of the band’s “Losing My Religion” in its coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
According to a post on the band’s website tonight:
“R.E.M.’s ‘Losing My Religion’ was used in the Fox News coverage of the Democratic National Convention last night. R.E.M. today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song. Michael Stipe said, ‘We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.'”
The move is hardly surprising coming from the left-leaning and famously political group, even in the wake of last year’s break-up. What’s more puzzling, however, is the meaning behind Stipe’s use of the phrase “puff adder” when referring to the conservative cable news network. Was the singer referring to the venomous snake? Or the somewhat obscure Marvel Comics villain?
(Longtime R.E.M. associate Ethan Kaplan chimes in via Twitter: “puff adder: snake which puffs itself up to look bigger. Formerly used by Stipe to describe Limbaugh.”)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- R.E.M.’s ‘Document’ 25th anniversary reissue to include unreleased 1987 concert
- R.E.M.’s Peter Buck recording solo album — and it could be a vinyl-only release
- Stream: R.E.M.’s final fan-club holiday single — ‘Perfect Circle,’ ‘Life and How to Live It’ live
- Stream: R.E.M. ‘Radio Free Europe’ original Mitch Easter mix from ‘Cassette Set’ demo
- R.E.M. unveils ‘Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011’ tracklist
- R.E.M., 1980-2011: Genre-defining college rock band breaks up after 31 years
J$P: “Today’s empty threat.”
“Puff adder” was so brilliant it had to be used twice.
Smartest decision made by REM all year.
Amen to that!
There are so many musicians who love America and are not left wing loons who would LOVE to have their music featured. One such artist is Joe Dan Gorman whose media company is JoeDanMedia. There are many more. Here is a link to JoeDanMedia on youtube. Check it out.. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8E3DEB551962088F
Nancy – You try to pimp an artist on an article whose subject you make a thinly veiled reference to being “left wing loons”. Might I suggest you finding a Hank Williams Jr. message board instead and posting there.
Republicans are the worst thing about America, they hate everyone who isn’t white, christian and rich.
Nah, your stupidity is the worst thing about America.
you are
I know you are but what am I?
It’s widely known R.E.M. support Liberal causes. Faux News did this intentionally to drum up controversy. Why is it Dems don’t do this to conservative artists? A. conservative music sucks and B. Liberals are’nt intentional jack asses. End of story.
Playing “Losing my Religion” while they do a “fair and balanced” report on the DNC? How could anyone consider them a legitimate news source? Fortunately, I missed that, I could not stand the split screens of the perpetual smirks that all Fox “news” employees alwaysseem to have.
Yawn….
Fox news is the same as CNN abc NBC ect they just promote a different agenda.
As for rem, they should have spent more time comming out with a decent record instead of pintificating on topics about which they know nothing about since everything post IRS records era was meh.
“Our music does not belong there”
It belongs in a trash can. REM blows.
James – I don’t agree with your opinion of REM, but your comment is pretty awesome. Well put.
I agree.
Oh REM – *yawn* Another brainless band. Just shut-up and stick to your music. All the major news networks are controlled by the same puppeteers. But brilliant Mike Stipe loves to talk before he thinks.
Brainless??? But Hank Williams Jr. and Ted Nugent are prolific??? I’ll take the “Left” and our brand of music any day.
It’s weird that all these tea-baggers: Honcho, Fogel, Notch (gee–they should start a Ted Nugent tribute band)–don’t think that REM should be able to control the music they own. Of course, if they were an oil company… isn’t it amazing how far right wing trolls will crawl? They even ruin your favorite music site.
Seriously… Eyeballs, remove the DNC and FOX NEWS tags so the riff-raff stays home.
Two Things:
1. It is really stupid when Republicans missinterprate music, like that guy who thaught fight the power had conservetive messages.
2. Losing My Religon, Radio Free Europe are some uch more inteligent than “cat Scratch Fever, Hey Baby” or Ramones Music
REM should be trilled their music is being played by fox or msm or cnn, they get money for it so thank Fox and anything else that pays for your music being played and then REM can give that money to whoever they want to support elections wise. Another way for REM to look at it is Fox respect their music and should be happy that people that may disagree with their politic views stills like their music.
“FOX News Channel’s use of an R.E.M. song during Thursday’s edition of FOX & Friends was in full accordance with its license agreements with all appropriate parties. Nevertheless, we’re always flattered to have this much attention for a song selection and we hope R.E.M. was able to satisfy their publicity fix.”
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(Update: FOX Responds) R.E.M. Slams FOX For Using Their Song During DNC Coverage: ‘Our Music Does Not Belong There’
http://www.mediaite.com/online/r-e-m-slams-fox-for-using-their-song-during-dnc-coverage-our-music-does-not-belong-there/
Hmmm, what’s a good term for has-been singer who puffs himself up to look more important than he is?
Why don’t you put out a record, wait a month and then tell us?
REM is a fine band. But that Stipe fellow forgets his irrelevance.