NME News: Fatboy Slim snubs Tories

But they may have the last laugh

 

Fatboy Slim has refused a request by the Conservatives to use his track 'Happiness' for their party conference this week (October 1-4) in Bournemouth.

 

However, under current law, a political party can use any song without the artist's permission as long as they pay the Performing Rights Society and the venue has a license from Phonographic Performance Limited.

 

Posting on his official website, Norman Cook said: "At least the Conservatives had the decency to ask first unlike Labour. The Tories however remain my least favourite political party so an emphatic 'no' is the answer."

 

At present, it is not known whether the Conservatives will use the track at their current conference.

 

Do you think that is a good or bad law?

it's a bad law... a song is still an artist's piece of work, and permission should be requested.

 

I can't see the hapless tories using the song now, anyway - and I presume they've forgotten all about Norm's uber-left wing first band The Housemartins?

A very, very BAD law, because basically it gives the impression that that artist endorses the policies of a particular Political Party and it may actually infuence said artist's fans to vote for that party thinking their idol supports a particular candidate, whereas in actual fact the artist may hold entirely the opposite views.. If I were in Cook's position I would be fukkin' furious if Cameron or B-Liar used one of my songs without my consent....

 

I mean, it could get to the extent where the British Nazi Party (ooops, sorry, British National Party) could use a song by, say, The Sex Pistols or The Clash in a campaign (it would be so easy for these b/astards to totally distort the meaning of a song like The Clash's "White Riot" or "I Fought The Law")... Somehow, I dont think Johnny Rotten or Joe Strummer would've liked the thought of that....