OT--BOSTON Guitarist Warns HUCKABEE About Using His Music

[mikemarrs]

According to FoxNews.com, BOSTON guitarist Tom Scholz has penned a letter to Mike Huckabee over the former Arkansas governor's use of his band's moniker and hit song on the campaign trail.

The production wizard, composer and mastermind behind the hit '70s stadium rock band is asking Huckabee to help "undo the damage" he apparently caused by the "misleading" use of his band.

While on the campaign trail late last year, Huckabee played bass on covers of the BOSTON song "More Than a Feeling", and even invited former band guitarist Barry Goudreau to play with him.

Though the GOP presidential candidate more commonly jams to covers of "Mustang Sally" and "Sweet Home Alabama", Scholz said in the letter he's "shocked" Huckabee would use his band's music without his consent. He complained the gigs would live on forever on the Internet.

Read Scholz' entire letter to Huckabee below.

"Dear Gov. Huckabee:

"It has come to my attention that your campaign's use of my song 'More Than a
Feeling' and my band's name BOSTON has resulted in a great deal of false
information, which it now appears may exist permanently on the Internet.

"While I'm flattered that you are fond of my song, I'm shocked that you would use it and the name BOSTON to promote yourself without my consent.

"Your campaign's use of 'More Than a Feeling', coupled with the representation of one of your supporters as a member 'of BOSTON' clearly implies that the band BOSTON, and specifically one of its members, has endorsed your candidacy, neither of which is true.

"I wrote and arranged 'More Than a Feeling', engineered and produced the recording, and actually played all the guitars on that BOSTON hit as well as most of BOSTON's songs, not the person holding a guitar in your promotion who identified himself as being 'of BOSTON.' Your claim that this was 'the guy who originally did it' is a bit mystifying since he never played on that recording, nor has he been 'of BOSTON' since he left my band over a quarter century ago, after performing with us for only three years.

"BOSTON has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything BOSTON stands for. In fact, although I'm impressed you learned my bass guitar part on 'More Than a Feeling', I am an Obama supporter.

"While this may seem like a little thing to you, BOSTON has been my life's work. I hold the trademark to the name and my reputation is inexorably tied to it.

"By using my song, and my band's name BOSTON, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!

"The unfortunate misconceptions caused by your campaign now live indefinitely on Internet news sites and blog archives.

"As the 'straight talk candidate,' I hope you will help undo the damage still being
caused by this misleading use of BOSTON and 'More Than a Feeling'.

"Still evolving,

"Tom Scholz for BOSTON"

[Andrew]

He hasn't sued anyone in a few weeks, I guess this was inevitable.

That said...good on him and I'd say much the same...

[finalfight]

He hasn't sued anyone in a few weeks, I guess this was inevitable.

That said...good on him and I'd say much the same...

Luckily you remembered to add the 'disclaimer' to keep his legal team at bay.

Now if only he would spend less time tying himself up with legal affairs and concentrate on making some new music...

[Voyager]

UpChuckabee blows.

So does Tom Scholz.

Make another hit dude - then you can get some real attention. What happened to Tom and Matthew Sweet getting together?

[Voyager]

"BOSTON has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything BOSTON stands for. In fact, although I'm impressed you learned my bass guitar part on 'More Than a Feeling', I am an Obama supporter.

Fuckin A Tommy. I am too.

I have never endorsed a political candidate either.

Obama Rocks!

[Saint John]

If I were Huckabee I'd tell Scholz to suck my balls. That dude needs to get a life.

[Rick]

If I were Huckabee I'd tell Scholz to suck my balls. That dude needs to get a life.

Tom would love that, he's a litigious fucker.

[conversationpc]

If I were Huckabee I'd tell Scholz to suck my balls. That dude needs to get a life.

If I was Huckabee, I'd put together a medley of Boston tunes and jam out to them at every opportunity.

[mikemarrs]

something tells me 'corporate america' would be a huckabee favorite........

[Rick]

something tells me 'corporate america' would be a huckabee favorite........

Good one!

[sniper16]

i love tom scholz, but i think its time to give up the I AM BOSTON retorick.
those guys were in boston, and have the right to the legacy(not the name)
as long as he dosent claim that BOSTON supports him,
getof his and barry's back.
and go play obana's consession party.

[lights1961]

first mellencamp... next boston.. next journey for open arms to ban the song at high school proms because it leads to making out... which leads to sex... which leads to kids..

well thats how dumb the whole thing is...

[lights1961]

first mellencamp... next boston.. next journey for open arms to ban the song at high school proms because it leads to making out... which leads to sex... which leads to kids..

well thats how dumb the whole thing is...

[Wally_Hatchet]

Hey Tom, thanks for the most annoying and overplayed song in rock history...

...now get a life, and fuck off.

[conversationpc]

Hey Tom, thanks for the most annoying and overplayed song in rock history...

...now get a life, and fuck off.

Come on now...It's a great song and arguably partly responsible for launching the melodic rock era, at least in my opinion. That being said, there are several other Boston tunes that I like better.

[Enigma869]

Hey Tom, thanks for the most annoying and overplayed song in rock history...

...now get a life, and fuck off.

I would say "Open Arms" is easily the most annoying song in the history of music! As for "More Than a Feeling"...I think it's a great song. Also, I'm not sure there is another song that showed Delp's vocal abilities more than that particular track! The highs he hit in that song were beyond impressive!


John from Boston

[Rockindeano]

If I were Huckabee I'd tell Scholz to suck my balls. That dude needs to get a life.

I agree. Wht a fucked up band Boston is. They make Journey look like the fuckin Cleavers.

Huckabee isn't a bad guy at all. So what if he is about 4 miles too far right, the believes in what he says and plays a mean bass. I will side with Huckster over that fuckhole Scholz.


Maybe Huckabee should use a Dokken song. I mean, a politician so far back you can't see him in the rear view mirror, and an obscure band would go hand in hand.

[Saint John]

Maybe Huckabee should use a Dokken song. I mean, a politician so far back you can't see him in the rear view mirror, and an obscure band would go hand in hand.

I can hear Rip cursing you all the way from here.

[conversationpc]

Also, I'm not sure there is another song that showed Delp's vocal abilities more than that particular track! The highs he hit in that song were beyond impressive!

True. Fran Cosmo was able to hit those notes pretty well, though I don't like his voice nearly as well. He was a good compliment to Brad's vocals in that band.

[Scarab Pilot]

Tom also got his candidates wrong...it's McCain that is the "straight talk candidate" whatever that means.

It never ceases to surprise me that the folks that brought us Woodstock, communal living, hug a tree, free love, and all that other 60's crap have become the very thing they supposedly were rebelling against. Damn dirty hippies like their money just as much as the establishment does!

As much as Tom likes to sue everyone he might reconsider renaming his Corporate America album because he's acting like corporate america.

[Enigma869]

Here is a copy of the entire letter that Scholz sent to Huckabee:

Dear Gov. Huckabee:

It has come to my attention that your campaign’s use of my song More Than a Feeling and my band’s name BOSTON has resulted in a great deal of false information, which it now appears may exist permanently on the Internet.

While I’m flattered that you are fond of my song, I’m shocked that you would use it and the name BOSTON to promote yourself without my consent.

Your campaign’s use of More Than a Feeling, coupled with the representation of one of your supporters as a member “of BOSTON” clearly implies that the band BOSTON, and specifically one of its members, has endorsed your candidacy, neither of which is true.

I wrote and arranged More Than a Feeling, engineered and produced the recording, and actually played all the guitars on that BOSTON hit as well as most of BOSTON’s songs, not the person holding a guitar in your promotion who identified himself as being “of BOSTON.” Your claim that this was “the guy who originally did it” is a bit mystifying since he never played on that recording, nor has he been “of BOSTON” since he left my band over a quarter century ago, after performing with us for only three years.

BOSTON has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything BOSTON stands for. In fact, although I’m impressed you learned my bass guitar part on More Than a Feeling, I am an Obama supporter.

While this may seem like a little thing to you, BOSTON has been my life’s work. I hold the trademark to the name and my reputation is inexorably tied to it.

By using my song, and my band’s name BOSTON, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I’ve been ripped off, dude!

The unfortunate misconceptions caused by your campaign now live indefinitely on Internet news sites and blog archives.

As the “straight talk candidate,” I hope you will help undo the damage still being caused by this misleading use of BOSTON and More Than a Feeling.

Still evolving,
Tom Scholz for BOSTON


John from Boston

p.s. The one thing I would agree with Scholz on is that Huckabee is indeed the "polar opposite" of EVERYTHING Boston (the city...not the band) stands for

[NealIsGod]

Hey, Tom - Any publicity is good publicity. I'll bet Huckabee helped sell a few of your albums.

[FishinMagician]

what an asshole. he really wants to emphasize that boston is HIS. anybody that tries to impress people to that degree is overcompensating for something.
and
is it just me, or does anyone else think most boston songs sound exactly the same? i love boston, but im just sayin

[conversationpc]

is it just me, or does anyone else think most boston songs sound exactly the same? i love boston, but im just sayin

Well, that's Boston's signature sound and no one else sounds anything like them but I know what you're saying.

[Enigma869]

what an asshole. he really wants to emphasize that boston is HIS. anybody that tries to impress people to that degree is overcompensating for something.
and
is it just me, or does anyone else think most boston songs sound exactly the same? i love boston, but im just sayin

Actually, many of the "riffs" on Boston songs sound identical, which is why I've never been much of a fan of their music!


John from Boston

[Wally_Hatchet]

Hey Tom, thanks for the most annoying and overplayed song in rock history...

...now get a life, and fuck off.

Come on now...It's a great song and arguably partly responsible for launching the melodic rock era, at least in my opinion. That being said, there are several other Boston tunes that I like better.

I know, just sticking up for the Huck'. I like Mike!

It IS a great song (album and band, too), but being so damn overplayed I can't stand hearing it anymore. Rather listen to Don't Look Back or Third Stage.

[ProgRocker53]

what an asshole. he really wants to emphasize that boston is HIS. anybody that tries to impress people to that degree is overcompensating for something.
and
is it just me, or does anyone else think most boston songs sound exactly the same? i love boston, but im just sayin

Yeah. A lot of Boston songs seem to have that same "crunch" to them.

[Voyager]

Maybe Huckabee should use a Dokken song.

Yeah - "Alone Again".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX8_cc7Q6zM

[Rip Rokken]

Maybe Huckabee should use a Dokken song. I mean, a politician so far back you can't see him in the rear view mirror, and an obscure band would go hand in hand.

Good idea... he could use "Down In Flames" off of Up From The Ashes.

[FishinMagician]

ok thanks im glad i'm not the only one lol. i say that to lots of my friends and they say well so does journey