LL Cool J, Toby Keith Protest Use of Interviews on Palin's Show

In 2008, rockers rallied to prevent the GOP from using their music without permission. Now two musicians are protesting one famous Republican's use of old interviews. LL Cool J wants the record to show that he did not sit down for an interview with former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin for the Alaska ex-governor's new Fox News show Real American Stories. Ladies Love Cool James took some heat after ads for Palin's new show teased the Rock Hall nominee as one of her guests. However, the rapper quickly responded on Twitter, "Fox lifted an old interview I gave in 2008 to someone else & are misrepresenting to the public in order to promote Sarah Palins Show. WOW," Gawker writes.

"Stop Using My Song, Republicans!": a guide to disgruntled rockers.

Country singer Toby Keith — another of Palin's advertised guests — has also hinted that he was displeased that an interview he gave a few years was being rebroadcast out of context for Palin's show. It should come as no surprise that Keith was opposed to Palin's reusing his interview: As Rolling Stone previously reported, during the 2008 presidential campaign, while country artists like John Rich were throwing their support behind the McCain-Palin ticket, Keith was one of the few artists in the genre to endorse Barack Obama.

Related Stories:
• Joe Walsh Vs. Joe Walsh: Rocker Battles Politician Over "Walk Away"
• Jackson Browne Settles With GOP Over "Running on Empty" Ad Use
• Jackson Browne Sues John McCain Over Campaign Commercial

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter