Silversun Pickups Ask Romney to Stop Using Their Song 'Panic Switch'

Silversun Pickups Ask Romney to Stop Using Their Song ‘Panic Switch’

2012-08-16

Story by Cat Badra

Alt-rock band Silversun Pickups shocked Mitt Romney used their hit ‘Panic Switch’ on the campaign trail

Alternative rockers Silversun Pickups aren’t too pleased that their 2009 chart-topped “Panic Switch” has been spun during Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign stops throughout the U.S. In fact, the band are demanding it stop. Silversun Pickups’ attorney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Romney camp, asking them to stop using the track.

In an official statement, Silversun Pickups lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert said that he’s livid that neither the musical outfit of their representatives were contacted to give permission for Romney to use the song.

“We don’t like people going behind our backs, using our music without asking, and we don’t like the Romney campaign,” Aubert said in the statement. “We’re nice, approachable people. We won’t bite. Unless you’re Mitt Romney! 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.”

The Romney camp has responded, and the Los Angeles Times reports that spokesperson from the campaign says, “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.”

Author
Recent Posts

Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.