6 months ago

R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe: ‘Our music does not belong’ at Fox News; Update: Fox fires back

http://twitter.com/#!/ProducerMatthew/status/244123243794018304

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:

http://t.co/qu1x0Pum REM tells Fox News to quit using their song in a way that is pig ignorant of what it's about.

— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) September 7, 2012

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

— Raquel Adams (@raqueladams) 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.

— Lily Bolourian (@LilyBolourian) September 7, 2012

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 (@sarahlaneSF) 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

Thank you Michael Stipe! “@THR: R.E.M. Slams Fox News, Demands It Stops Playing 'Losing My Religion' http://t.co/K6Zs5AJL”

— Sohrob Tahmasebi (@sohrob) September 7, 2012

conservative co-opting of liberal music is so weird. Use your own crappy cultural touchstones. (h/t @AmandaMarcotte) http://t.co/kFXjuYsU

— Lisa Needham (@snipy) September 7, 2012

@LeaningLeftward Way To Go R.E.M! You're amazing music does NOT belong on a station of HATE!

— Lara Schultz (@lara_schultz68) 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

Aww their feelings are hurt MT @mediaite: R.E.M. Slams Fox For Using Song During DNC: 'Our Music Does Not Belong There' http://t.co/ki4q4Fut

— Rschrim (@Rschrim) September 7, 2012

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

— Jim Treacher (@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!