Caroline Lynott launches battle against Mitt Romney use of Thin Lizzy music
The controversy over the use of 'The Boys Are Back In Town' by the Mitt Romney campaign intensified today, with the Philip Lynott estate insisting on a Cease and Desist order being issued...
The Hot Press Newsdesk, 14 Sep 2012
Philomena Lynott, mother of Philip Lynott, has already expressed her indignation at the use of Philip Lynott's music to support the Romney campaign, insisting that Philip would not have supported the tax cuts proposed by Romney which favour the rich elite; and that he would have abhorred the Romney campaign's opposition to same sex marriage.
The Thin Lizzy guitar player Scott Gorham, who played on the track has also expressed his opposition to the use of the music to bolster the Romney campaign. "Mitt Romney would not be a guy I would vote for," he told Hot Press.
In an editorial in the Hot Press Yearbook, just published, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes reflects on the groundswell of opposition to the misuse of the Irish rock hero's music by the Republican party – a development which is deeply embarrassing for both Romnay and his running mate Paul Ryan.
"Music has an astonishing power," Stokes – the author of Into The Heart - The Stories Behind The Songs of U2 – reflects. "It burrows its way deeper and takes a hold of us with a power that nothing else can match – apart perhaps from sex. This is why the opening chord of ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ is such a potentially powerful political card to play.
"In Philip's absence," Stokes adds, "his mother Philomena had done a very effective job, making people all over the United States aware that as far as she was concerned the use of the music was an act of political larceny."
Now that has been confirmed by the active opposition of the Philip Lynott estate.
Stokes concludes with a suggestion that, if President Obama wins a second term he might like to kick-start it by playing 'The Boys Are Back In Town' at his inauguration.
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