Rockers Vs GOP: No ‘Pink Houses’ for McCain, ‘Feeling’ for Huckabee
Dem Rockers strike back at GOP candidates: McCain barred from using Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses,” Huckabee from “More than a Feeling” 
By Jeffrey Jolson for Hollywood Today

HOLLYWOOD, CA (RUSHPRNEWS) 6/01/08 — “More Than a Feeling” is causing more than a ruckus as the songwriter and founder of the rock group Boston has a bad feeling towards Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who is using the rock classic as a campaign anthem without his permission.

Tom Sholz, considered the reclusive mastermind behind the group which holds a still-standing record for selling 14 million copies of the debut album the song was on, “Boston,” wrote a letter to Huckabee that was cc’d to the media, saying “he’d been ripped off”

“Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with 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!”

In Huckabee’s defense, Sholz’ former bandmate 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.

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 Lynyrd Skynyrd 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.’

Scholz, in a telephone interview with AP on Friday, said he understands “More Than a Feeling” has been a centerpiece at some rallies, and said Goudreau is identified with the band in an endorsement video.

“Whenever a campaign publicly exploits a well-known song, there is some inference of support” by the band or artist, he added.

He recommends that Huckabee “stick to music recorded by far-right Republicans.”

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.

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