John McCain’s campaign has been using the Foo Fighters song, “My Hero” at rallies without the band’s permission.

“It’s frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property. The saddest thing about this is that ‘My Hero’ was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song. We hope that the McCain campaign will do the right thing and stop using our song–and start asking artists’ permission in general!”

- Statement from Foo Fighter’s public relations firm, Nasty Little Man

This is not the first time this has happened, apparently.

The band Heart noticed that its song “Barracuda” was used for Sarah Palin events without permission.

John Mellencamp’s songs, “Our Country” and “Little Pink Houses” were used without permission.

Jackson Browne’s song “Running on Empty” was also used by the Republican party without consent. Jackson Browne has even filed suit against the party as well as the campaign, concerned that playing the song at an Ohio event implies his endorsement of McCain.

John Hall, a member of the 1970s group Orleans and now congressman, was unhappy with the campaign’s use of the Orleans song “Still The One” without his consent.

Frankie Valli’s record label, Warner Music Group, claimed copyright infringement over the use of the song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” in a web advertisement which was used without permission.

Copyright owners for the “Rocky” theme song “telephoned the McCain campaign to politely complain it was being used without permission.”

Know of any others? Post them in the comments below…

Sometimes we wish John McCain would not run for president and focus on his acting instead. Then we’d see more things like “To Love, Honor, and Stalk” from this episode of Saturday Night Live that McCain hosted in 2002…

Tags: barracuda, campaign, can't take my eyes off of you, congressman, consent, copyright, foo fighters, heart, infringement, intellectual property, jackson browne, john cougar mellencamp, john hall, john mccain, little pink houses, my hero, nasty little man, orleans, our country, rally, republican party, rocky theme song, running on empty, sarah palin, saturday night live, snl, still the one, to love honor and stalk, without permission