Twisted Sister Blasts Australian Politician For Campaign Using ‘Re-Written Version’ of ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’
Twisted Sister has a message for the Australian politician and businessman Clive Palmer… they’re not gonna take it.
The ‘80s hair metal band has threatened legal action against the United Australia Party and its colorful and controversial leader for recording a soundalike of their hit “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
More from Billboard
Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French put Palmer on blast. “Twisted Sister does not endorse Australian politician Clive Palmer, never heard of him and was never informed of Clive Palmer’s use of a re-written version of our song We’re Not Gonna Take It,” he tweeted. “We receive no money from its use and we are investigating how we can stop it.”
The contested song accompanies a campaign currently being circulated on TV and social media Down Under and uses the lyrics, “Australia ain’t gonna cop it, no Australia’s not gonna cop it. Aussies not gonna cop it.”
Frontman Dee Snider weighed in with a tweet of his own. “No we do not endorse @PalmerUtdParty! We are contacting our legal team to address this and if that doesn’t work…I’ll be down under in three weeks to deal with it myself!”
When asked for comment, Palmer told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation via a text message that he “wrote the words”. He added, “Old rocker who can not sell enough tickets to their last gig need publicity…No communication from their lawyers, I own the copyright for my own lyrics.”
Palmer, who made his fortune in mining before turning his attention to the right-wing of politics, is as well known for his unusual projects, which include the dinosaur theme park Palmersaurus and plans to build a replica of the ill-fated Titanic, as he is for his stoushes. In recent years, Palmer has locked horns with the likes of the-then Football Federation Australia boss Frank Lowy, Queensland’s former Premier Campbell Newman and now, Twisted Sister.
The federal member for Fairfax from 2013-16, Palmer relaunched the Palmer United Party as United Australia Party last year, and has vowed to contest the next federal election.
Snider doesn’t always disapprove of politicians using his band’s songs. In 2015, he said he consented to Donald Trump using the song at Republican campaign events, though he denounced Paul Ryan’s use of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” at a 2012 GOP rally.
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” is Twisted Sister’s highest-charting song, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1984.
Best of Billboard