.

R.E.M. Issue Cease and Desist to Fox News

'We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage'

September 7, 2012 1:35 PM ET
Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
Jim Spellman/Getty Images

R.E.M. have issued a cease and desist order against Fox News, after the right-wing cable news network played "Losing My Religion" during its coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

"We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there," said Michael Stipe, in a statement posted on R.E.M.'s website.

The band sent the cease and desist through its publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanding that Fox News stop "its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song."

Just last week, Stipe co-wrote a letter with writer-director Tom Gilroy slamming Republicans as part of the 90 Days, 90 Reasons project. "The current Republican platform seeks the opposite of democracy," reads the letter. "It seeks to create a permanent aristocracy – an entitled gentry that has greater access to this dream than most of the rest of America."

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

prev
Music Main Next

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.

Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »