McCain Offends Van Halen, Sucks at Music

Is playing someone else’s song at your political function a copyright violation? We’ll find out sooner rather than later, it seems. John McCain might be at the forefront of that sonic conundrum, the way he keeps grifting tunes without approval. He’s already been sued by Jackson Browne for doing just that. This time around, he’s […]

Is playing someone else's song at your political function a copyright violation?

We'll find out sooner rather than later, it seems. John McCain might be at the forefront of that sonic conundrum, the way he keeps grifting tunes without approval. He's already been sued by Jackson Browne for doing just that.

This time around, he's angered the ax legend that made hammering cool.

The bad news? The tune is "Right Now," from Van Halen's Sammy Hagar era, arguably the band's worst. You decide.

Evidently, McCain's campaign blared the track during a speech in Ohio, at which point the band complained that he should've chosen Twisted Sister instead.

"Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given," a Van Halen representative told TMZ.

this audio or video is no longer availableThe weird news? McCain's recently announced running mate and governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, according to the Associated Press, has named one of her five children Trig Paxson Van Palin, in honor of the band.

No further comment.

Photo: AP/Kiichiro Sato

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