Following in the illustrious footsteps of Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe threw a fit over Fox News’ use of the band’s “Losing My Religion” during its DNC coverage. R.E.M. issued a statement calling for Fox News to “cease and desist.” Stipe took the opportunity to don his trademark pretentious pants:
“We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.”
“Puff adder reportage”? Well! That’s a slap in the face to Fox News if we ever saw one! Many of R.E.M.’s fans agreed and thought the cease-and-desist was just ducky:
https://twitter.com/AmandaMarcotte/status/244102497084522497
Go 'head, Michael Stipe! http://t.co/gF5I7FgC (via @ohbretterson)
— Melissa Lake Moran (@melissa_lake) September 7, 2012
Haha, yes! RT @Salon: R.E.M. tells @FoxNews to stop using their music, compares the network to an (cont) http://t.co/geeY7Rsi
— geekster (@geekstergrl) September 7, 2012
Love Michael Stipe! RT@politico R.E.M. to Fox News: Lose our song http://t.co/XFZpbnAE
— John Grazide (@Jbox415) September 7, 2012
A salute to Michael Stipe and R.E.M. for standing up to the music thieves at the Fuckwit Noise channel.
“We have… http://t.co/yhCLO8gD— ILIWIWUITMABOIP (@4MoreYrsReElecO) September 7, 2012
lol, we have ALL the music! RT @GregMitch: R.E.M. demands Fox News "puff adders" stop using their "Losing My Religion" http://t.co/PtdqLycp
— Nioshii (@Nartist) September 7, 2012
R.E.M. tells Fox News to stop using their music: "Our music does not belong there." http://t.co/eBrOxtjL OH SNAP.
— لی لی (@LilyBolourian) September 7, 2012
Recommended
nice 🙂 RT @GregMitch: R.E.M. demands Fox News "puff adders" stop using their "Losing My Religion." http://t.co/zAz7Eyz9
— Mathew Ingram (@mathewi) September 7, 2012
Hey, Republicans, please just enjoy the silence or stick with Ted Nugent or Megadeth songs. http://t.co/D7o9qaI8
— More Humans (@morehumans) September 7, 2012
R.E.M telling Fox News to fuck off is the best thing I've read today.
— Marc Ellerby (@MarcEllerby) September 7, 2012
Poor rightwingers – musicians always demanding they stop playing their songs. Now it's REM vs Fox News: http://t.co/i3CZ38p2
— sarahlane (@sarahlanepdx) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/Nick4Left/status/244115342887116801
Awesome. RT @Jawside: R.E.M Protest Fox News' Use of "Losing My Religion": "Our Music Does Not Belong There" http://t.co/AfS93CrV #fb
— Matthew Cooper (@matt02392) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/sohrob/status/244128760243290112
https://twitter.com/snipy/status/244116037191208960
@LeaningLeftward Way To Go R.E.M! You're amazing music does NOT belong on a station of HATE!
— Frankie Lee (@FrankieLeeBlue) September 7, 2012
Amazing. “@alysonshane: Hahaha awesome – R.E.M. orders Fox News to stop playing ‘Losing My Religion’ during DNC http://t.co/3fxY9hMi”
— Kara (@InSepiaTone) September 7, 2012
Good to know Michael Stipe and co are still kicking RT @politico R.E.M. to Fox News: Lose our song http://t.co/Rj27DZ66
— Julia Dahl (@juliadahl) September 7, 2012
It disgusts me that the filthy, lying #GOP were trying to use a great R.E.M. song to further their racist, homophobic agenda.
— Tracy (@angstytimelord) September 7, 2012
Not everyone was so enamored of Stipe and the band. In fact, they seemed pretty “meh” about the whole thing:
Good! Worst band ever! RT @politico: R.E.M. to Fox News: Lose our song http://t.co/SWR3PTXy
— FlyingRedChair (@FlyingRedChair) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/Rschrim/status/244112567327395842
Music belongs to the person who pays for it. MT @mediaite: R.E.M. Slams Fox For Using Their Song During DNC Coverage http://t.co/wOKLbLBZ
— Lisa De Pasquale (@LisaDeP) September 7, 2012
@Spectricide THUS, R.E.M. will collect their profits from Fox while at the same time pretending sanctimonious indignation
— Jeff Douglas (@Boomerjeff) September 7, 2012
Wait, R.E.M. is still a thing?RT @politico: R.E.M. to Fox News: Lose our song http://t.co/LRFO80Xn
— Bob ن (@BobHicks_) September 7, 2012
Something tells us Fox won’t be hurting too much. Maybe they’ll even give R.E.M. the “Red Eye” treatment.
We sure hope so!
***
Update:
This afternoon, Fox News kicked R.E.M. right smack in the whiny pants:
Fox News fires back at REM in ‘Losing My Religion’ cease-and-desist fight http://t.co/ZV0yvUyQ
— China is lying (@jtLOL) September 7, 2012
“FOX News Channel’s use of an R.E.M. song during Thursday’s edition of ‘Fox & Friends’ was in full accordance with its license agreements with all appropriate parties,” a Fox News representative said. “Nevertheless, we’re always flattered to have this much attention for a song selection and we hope R.E.M. was able to satisfy their publicity fix.”
Oh, sa-NAP!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member