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Tom Petty Tells Michele Bachmann to Quit Using 'American Girl' for Campaign

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UPDATE: Bachmann didn't listen to Petty and used 'American Girl' at another campaign event, as Politico reports. So much for resolving this quickly.

Tea Party presidential hopeful and accidental John Wayne Gacy admirer Michele Bachmann is a true blue American patriot -- but the use of Tom Petty's classic 'American Girl' as her campaign song has prompted the rocker to say 'Don't Do Me Like That.'

According to the Wall Street Journal's Neil King, Petty has requested that Bachmann cease using his song to support her campaign.

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As the Daily Swarm points out, this isn't the first time Petty has put his foot down over Republicans using his music. Besides the great Bachman-Petty Overturn, the singer also once told President Bush's camp to cool it on the playing his tunes at campaign events.

Watch Michele Bachmann's Campaign Announcement

Tom Petty Performs 'American Girl'


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388 Comments

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jgranger3532

Weed is supposed to be anti-inflammatory so why is Petty’s head so swollen

July 13 2011 at 8:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jjeff16506

Don't really feel like reading through all of this drivel...but does anyone even realize that Petty's version is actually a cover? Roger McGuinn of the Byrds actually wrote American Girl for his first solo record...so Petty doesn't even own the publishing writes to the song...not sure how far the law protects the recording...if she pays her BMI/ASCAP fees, old Tom may actually have no say in the matter. Apparently the geniuses at Huff/AOL are only good at stupid snarky comments, not at actually knowing anything that they write about.

July 09 2011 at 7:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to jjeff16506's comment
h2181

"Roger McGuinn of the Byrds actually wrote American Girl"

No he didn't

March 08 2012 at 9:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mandoist

Tom Petty OWNS his music; bottom line. To use it means you ask legal permission, or pay for the rights to use it...and even then there are very specific regulations spelling-out how you can use it.

Unfortunately the past couple of generations who think music is free for the taking probably got their priorities screwed-up by their parents. Music artists have been s**t upon for centuries. Performers are almost always the last to be paid, if at all...and always the first to go when budget crunchers roll out their red carpet.

People love music; especially when they can get it for free.

June 30 2011 at 6:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dal

Most here miss the point of why these artist take offence to these politicians using their songs. It's like if you don't support someone, you certainly don't want to come off like you do in most of these cases this is why they cry foul. I'm sure that copy rights can play a roll here but looking at the history AOL provided I'm betting it's a dislike of the party and or person using it that modivates the respounce.

June 30 2011 at 6:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to dal's comment
Mandoist

Petty (as do I) despises most all politicians.

June 30 2011 at 6:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tommy Boy

Tom Petty didn't write her a note to stop. The Law firm wrote a cease and desist letter. This is not about politics it's a business and legal matter. Maybe she should have used a Ted Nugent song, or get Kelsey Grammer to write and sing one for her.

June 30 2011 at 5:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gleam1946

The Democratic Party is composed of iconoclasts with a rabid response to popular opinions and customary standards.

June 30 2011 at 5:43 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
jlining8

pretty disrespectful of her,goes to show she gonna be disrespectful of his wishes & rights,just think what she would be like in the white house towards our wishes & rights

June 30 2011 at 5:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alfredschrader

I started out on a dusty rod. Started out with a heavy load.
But I'm learning to fly and I aint got wings. Comin down is the hardest thing.

June 30 2011 at 5:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stenokat

As a republican I choose not to listen or buy his music.

June 30 2011 at 5:32 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Mandoist

Musician's and writer's works are protected by copyright laws under the "Intellectual Property" acts. Even politicians are not immune.

Kind of impressive, though, how the majority of musicians and writers have not resorted to lawsuits in these cases. No matter which side of the ineffectual political party you camp with, ya gotta have some respect for these people making a simple, personal request rather than sending their lawyers after these idiots call "presidential candidates".

June 30 2011 at 5:31 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply