Twisted Sister threaten legal action after politician rewrites song for political ad
After Twisted Sister got wind that Australian politician Clive Palmer had rewritten some of the lyrics to their infamous “We’re Not Gonna Take It” to use in his political campaign, they gave a big N-O we ain’t gonna take it.
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Palmer is currently trying to earn another run at federal parliament under the United Australian Party. His ads have popped up everywhere from YouTube to Facebook, an ad which just so happens to include a rendition of the Twisted Sister track that Palmer re-wrote himself.
You can watch a short clip of one below, where the lyrics “We’re not gonna take it” are mangled into “Australia ain’t gonna cop it”.
And just in case you have no idea what Twisted Sister tack I’m talking about:
Fans were quick to point it out to the band, who immediately distanced themselves from Palmer and cleared the air in regards to the use of their track.
Twisted Sister does not endorse Australian politician Clive Palmer, never heard of him and was never informed of Clive Palmer's use of a re -written version of our song Were Not Gonna Take It.
We receive no money from its use and we are investigating how we can stop it.— Jay Jay French (@jayjayfrench) January 1, 2019
No we do not endorse @PalmerUtdParty! We are contacting our legal team to address this and if that doesn't work…I'LL BE DOWN UNDER IN THREE WEEKS TO DEAL WITH IT MYSELF! https://t.co/h9T2O2GAkQ
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) January 1, 2019
YOU HEARD THE MAN! "We're Not Gonna Take It" is a song about EVERYONE'S right to chose. "We've got the right to chose and there ain't no way we'll lose it!" The FIRST LINE of the first verse! Clive Palmer and the @PalmerUtdParty are NOT pro choice…so THIS AIN'T HIS SONG! https://t.co/KeIiW2PHxA
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) January 1, 2019
I did not and I have my people looking into it. Changing the words is even more fucked up than using it without permission! https://t.co/Gp6ZSFTNTD
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) December 31, 2018
The Australian politician responded to Snider’s tweet:
We believe in everyone’s right to choose and freedom of speech. Why try to stop us promoting freedom of speech & free choice?
— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) January 2, 2019
But Snider wasn’t having any of that:
You need to write your own song, son. https://t.co/m0AvQ6ROQh
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) January 2, 2019
In a statement to 10 Daily, Palmer defended his use of the song stating:
“I wrote the words personally that appear on our promotion and hold the copyright for those words. I understand [the band’s] current proposed tour has been slow to sell tickets. This is understandable given how long ago they had any influence in the world of music. It’s been a long time between rock ‘n’ roll drinks. As foreigners they should stay out of Australian domestic politics and stay where they are.”
This is not the first run-in Palmer has had in regards to bands asking him to stop using their music.
Chumbawamba demanded the politician stop using their song “Tub Thumping” in an ad Palmer released in 2018.
I get knocked down, but I get up again, you're never going to keep me down.#MakeTownsvilleGreat #3000jobs #PutPoliticsAside pic.twitter.com/gurZ5JpgwM
— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) July 17, 2018
What’s your take on politicians using band’s tracks for political ads? Sound off in the comments below!
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