.

David Byrne Wins Settlement Over Unauthorized Political Ad

Byrne had sued former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for using a Talking Heads song in a campaign ad

Comment
By 
April 12, 2011 8:15 AM ET
David Byrne Wins Settlement Over Unauthorized Political Ad
Paul Morigi/WireImage

Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has settled a lawsuit with David Byrne after the politician used one of Bryne's old Talking Heads songs in a campaign last year without permission. Both parties have declined to reveal the terms of their settlement, but it did include a video apology by Crist that was posted to YouTube yesterday. Byrne had sued Crist for $1 million for using "Road to Nowhere," a hit from the Talking Heads' 1985 album Little Creatures, in an attack ad targeting his Senate race opponent Marco Rubio.

Choose the Cover of Rolling Stone, Round Two: Vote by April 14!

In a statement released yesterday, Byrne said that he was surprised to learn that the unauthorized use of pop songs in political advertising was very widespread. "It turns out I am one of the few artists who has the bucks and (guts) to challenge such usage. I'm feeling very manly after my trip to Tampa!," Byrne said. The musician went on to express his hope that by taking a stand on this issue, other politicians may reconsider this practice in the future.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Digest: Arcade Fire, Muse and Phish Headline Outside Lands Festival
Music Main Next
Reviewed: Foo Fighters' Best Album in Years; Young Bob Dylan in Concert

Picks From Around the Web


blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Kanye and Ben Affleck's 'SNL' Teaser Clip

Go To Content

Gallery: 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Best Ever Lists
500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Other Lists

Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »