Songwriter To Huckabee: Stop Using My Song

Founder Of Boston Complains GOP Candidate Played "More Than A Feeling" Without Permission

(AP)  The chief songwriter and founder of the band Boston has more than a feeling that he's being ripped off by Mike Huckabee.

In a letter to the Republican presidential hopeful, Tom Scholz complains that Huckabee is using his 1970s smash hit song "More Than a Feeling" without his permission. A former member of the band, Barry Goudreau, has appeared with Huckabee at campaign events, and they have played the song with Huckabee's band, Capitol Offense.

Scholz, who said Goudreau left the band more than 25 years ago after a three-year stint, objects to the implication that the band and one of its members has endorsed Huckabee's candidacy.

"Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and will all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for," wrote Scholz, adding that he is supporting Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. "By using my song, and my band's name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!"

Fred Bramante, who was chairman of Huckabee's New Hampshire campaign, called the allegations ridiculous. He said he attended dozens of Huckabee rallies in New Hampshire and other states and never heard Huckabee play "More Than a Feeling," other than when Goudreau campaigned with him in Iowa in October.

"Governor Huckabee plays 'Sweet Home Alabama.' Does that mean Lynard Skynard is endorsing him? He plays 'Louie Louie.' Does that mean The Kingsmen are endorsing him? To me, it's ridiculous," he said. "Never once has he said, 'The band Boston endorses me.'

Tensions between Scholz and some of the early band members date from the early 1980s, when CBS Inc. sued the band over delays in recording new albums. The company's Epic Records label recorded the band's first two releases: "Boston," in 1976, and "Don't Look Back," in 1978.

Scholz - who wrote, engineered, and laid down nearly all the instrumental tracks on the first album - countersued for the rights to the band's name and music. Three members of the original band, including Goudreau, testified for the record company, which lost.

In his letter, Scholz referred to Huckabee as the "straight talk candidate," but that label more often is applied to Sen. John McCain, who has had his own troubles when it comes to his musical playlist. Last week, McCain's campaign agreed to stop playing John Mellencamp's songs "Our Country" and "Pink Houses" at his rallies after the liberal rocker complained.

Mellencamp had supported Democrat John Edwards, who recently dropped out of the race.

Other candidates have had better luck selecting songs. Celine Dion said she was "thrilled" that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton used her song, "You and I" as her official campaign anthem. Obama frequently blares U2's "City of Blinding Lights" at his events.

[artrick-2009]

Hey Fred Bramante you *** if my niece can be sued for using songs from online sites, then huckabee can stop using other peoples music without asking. At least he isn''t being sued for the use.

[jschufm]

Tom Scholz is the author; Huckabee should cease and desist! Unless of course, Fred Bramante belongs to that Republican conglomerate group who represent the WE-SAY-SO CORP., in which case the rest of humanity can very well drop dead! (Typical!) js

[rushman71]

MCVet: Only an atheistic dumfuq like you would waist time typing *** like that. Oh, and btw, you forgot to say your usual BS: "Seig Heil"

[candide777]

"Governor Huckabee plays ''Sweet Home Alabama.''

Wow, the Huckster is a bigger racist than I knew! I wonder if the Huckster really agrees that a Southern Man don''t need Neil Young around to tell them to stop being racist, or has he never listened to the lyrics?

[candide777]

Here''s why Huckajesus and Lynard Skynard don''t like Neil Young who wrote the following in his song Southern Man:

I saw cotton
and I saw black
Tall white mansions
and little shacks.
Southern man
when will you
pay them back?
I heard screamin''
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?

[callenfallen]

American Idol,Karioke singers, and utube to name a few places that need a letter of, "getting ripped off Dude! Get real!
Keep the Good Fight Huckabee or will Triumph send me a verbal warning for that expression being theirs? I hope not, starting to loose respect for some good artist.

[keithle1]

"More Than A Feeling" is such a great song. Always gets me up when I''m feeling down. Great vocals by the late Brad Delp.

Republicans can''t find any good music written by people who support them. All of the musicians/songwriters are Democrats.

Celine Dion? Oy. That''s reason enough right there not to vote for Hillary.

[neobrian-2009]

hey,...Huckleby supporters Could help The Democrats !
They obviously don`t want McCant in !
But,YES,..ALL Artists,songwriters and people with functioning brains Are Democrats!

[midclssrep]

Tom Scholz is just trying to get his name in the papers. Has-been.

[likeitis5050]

More Than A Feeling" is such a great song. Always gets me up when I''''m feeling down. Great vocals by the late Brad Delp.

Republicans can''''t find any good music written by people who support them. All of the musicians/songwriters are Democrats.

Celine Dion? Oy. That''''s reason enough right there not to vote for Hillary.


Posted by Keithle1

Frankly I think Scholz needs to be happy anyone wants to use the over played, tired song anyway. It''s not worth all the hoopla. Just another has-been cry baby...you''re right...has to be a liberal.

[fettkonserv]

Huckleberry''s a Fraud like McCain.
Both who can''t find a song they can use.
I would suggest McCain and Huckabee both contact ACDC. I''m sure the songs would fit, but then again they probably can''t get permission. Maybe the two of them can record Ron Paul groaning as they kick the $hit out of him on the floor to one of Frank Zappa''s numbers. Heck even the $hitkickers don''t want to be associated with these Republicon Nazi jerks.

[hwy71so]

Does this mean I can no longer play my three boston albums loud enough that the neighbors hear since I''m a conservative Christian with morals and not ruled by my bank account like scholz apparently is?

What a nut job! If boston didn''t want their songs to be public, they should have kept them in the garage!

See ya scholz! Lynard Skynard ROCKS!! Candide, "a southern man don''t need you around anyhow" either. Spreading your lies and propoganda.

BTW, I will NOT vote for Huckabee. I just don''t like the communistic attitude of you distorted so-called liberals.

[glossypan]

Seems as if somebody in the Republicans camps would have been smart enough to understand intellectual property rights and the private enterprise value of music and not used the tunes in public without permission and payment.
Does the Republican party approve of the theft of valuable assets from entrepreneurs if the owners happen to be artists?

[creeper00]

"If boston didn''''t want their songs to be public, they should have kept them in the garage!"
Posted by Hwy71So at 08:46 AM : Feb 16, 2008

Does the word "copyright" ring a bell with you?

[bdribus]

Another pointless hit piece by the media... it would be a service to the voters to talk about what Huckabee is actually saying, but no, no, no, they would rather dredge up this sort of slop.

[prairiefox1]

I DOUBT THE COPYRIGHT IS IN EFFECT NOW!
THE SONG IS PROBABLY PUBLIC DOMAIN!
SO WHATS THE BEEF?

[prairiefox1]

LAST TIME I LOOKED A COPYRIGHT LASTED FOR 20 YEARS AND NOT FOR A LIFE TIME AS IN THE OLD DAYS!

[prairiefox1]

OK! I''M WRONG!

[bogdog30]

Playing her guitar with Cheesy and Kombat Kerry on the comb, the ****

sucks up to ******** (the Grifter) like a gay vampire.

[bdrlnt4rl]

this just in:

god called and asked huckabee to stop using his name.

[rational_1]

I''m a huge Boston fan, and have been for more years than I''d like to admit, and would probably buy an album of Tom Scholz belching, but this is a non-story. Huckleberry is done as a candidate so why waste electrons pushing this?

[keithle1]

Where would Huckabee be without Evangelical Christians? Lets give them their own planet & they can live there. I''m sick of Christians.

[formrusmcsgt]

Where would Huckabee be without Evangelical Christians? Lets give them their own planet & they can live there. I''''m sick of Christians.

Posted by Keithle1 at 09:06 AM : Feb 17, 2008

They''re already on their own planet, bro......

[rohink-2009]

Where would Huckabee be without Evangelical Christians? Lets give them their own planet & they can live there. I''''m sick of Christians.

Posted by Keithle1

~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~

Keith, I can appreciate the fact that you are sick and tired of Christians. I believe that Christians are the majority in the United States, so we will find a planet for you and yours, then we can all live in harmony.

[keithle1]

Why do y''all feel the need to shove Christianity down everyone''s throat? Why do we have to bow down so y''all can ride right over us?

[candide777]

I believe that Christians are the majority in the United States, so we will find a planet for you and yours, then we can all live in harmony.
Posted by rohink at 01:00 PM : Feb 17, 2008

Enjoy it while it lasts - there''s a slow awakening going on -- people are starting to see that the preacher has no clothes.

[quetzal0666]

I Wonder if he can Play a Slayer Song Instead,

"Read Between The Lines"


That would be sooo soo sweet...

[offtheback]

Seems he is using the song for personal gain. That is coppyright infringment. He should be sued by Sholz , Epic Records and CBS Entertainment.
Another example of selfrightous entitlement theft on the part of a Politition.
If he gets elected he can just use eminent domaine to steel it.

[offtheback]

Tom Scholz is just trying to get his name in the papers. Has-been.

Posted by MidClssRep

He put a more profound mark on American society with a 16 track recorder in his basement then you will ever with all of the technology the world can muster.

[offtheback]

BTW, I will NOT vote for Huckabee. I just don''''t like the communistic attitude of you distorted so-called liberals.


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Posted by Hwy71So

Go back to bed, yer sister''s callin.