Rock Band The Silversun Pickups Ask Mitt Romney to Stop Playing Its Song

Alternative rock band The Silversun Pickups has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Mitt Romney, asking him to stop playing its music at his events.
"Without any regard for copyright or intellectual property laws, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has, without permission, begun to use Silversun Pickups' 2009 smash 'Panic Switch' at campaign stops across the country," lead singer-guitarist Brian Aubert said in a statement, according to The Los Angeles Times. "Neither the band nor its representatives were contacted to gain permission for the use of the song and the band has no intention of endorsing the Romney campaign. The band's attorney issued a cease-and-desist today."

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The band also questioned why their song, which includes lyrics like "Do your fingers itch, are you pistol-whipped?" would be an appropriate theme.

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"We were very close to just letting this go because the irony was too good. While he is inadvertently playing a song that describes his whole campaign, we doubt that 'Panic Switch' really sends the message he intends," Aubert said.
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul responded to the band's statement saying, "The song was inadvertently played during event set-up before Gov. Romney arrived at the location. As anyone who attends Gov. Romney's events knows, this is not a song we would have played intentionally. That said, it was covered under the campaign's regular blanket license, but we will not play it again."