The Hoodoo Gurus’ 1987 hit song “What’s My Scene?” The song was used to bring Senator Pauline Hanson on stage at the Australian anti-immigration march in Brisbane on Australia Day.
Band member Dave Faulkner said that when he learned of this, he and the other band members were immediately horrified and immediately created a statement condemning the use of the song. Post on social media:
Yesterday I was disgusted to hear that one of our songs was played by a group of wannabe fascists (One Nation). Like most Australians, we have always been appalled by Pauline Hanson and the toxic nonsense she spews. This is our message to her and her followers. Don’t play our music, don’t listen to our band, and don’t give us a pass! We want nothing to do with you. In fact, if you’re on fire, we’re not going to attack you.
Mr Faulkner told Mark Gibson on ABC Radio Perth that he personally wrote the statement as a “gut reaction to unpleasant news”.
“We’re obviously pretty upset about this whole thing,” he said.
”We do not want other people’s dirty hands to do our work or put words into our own mouths. We don’t associate ourselves with such things.”
Use of songs at gatherings is a legal ‘gray area’
Faulkner said bands must obtain a license if they want to use recorded music in advertisements or performances, but it’s nearly impossible to police the use of music at gatherings.
“It’s kind of a gray area because theoretically you need to get a license from APRA to broadcast music,” he said.
“They use our music to promote their messages and events, which are both commercial and political.
”I think we really should have the right to say we won’t use it for any political purpose unless we agree with it.”
If a clip of Sen. Hanson was uploaded to a platform like YouTube with music playing in the background, it could be blocked and removed under copyright law, but it would be more difficult to prevent music from being played live at an event.
“If they play it at a rally, we can’t go there and cut the speaker cables, so it’s really beyond our control,” Faulkner said.
Hoodoo Guru’s song was used to bring Senator Pauline Hanson on stage on January 26th. (ABC News: Kenji Sato)
Unfazed by trolling retaliation
In response to the band’s social media posts, One Nation supporters were encouraged to access the Facebook posts and “troll” the band with negative comments.
Faulkner said it didn’t bother him at all.
Loading…
He was more concerned that people would listen to the music and think that he and the band were supporting One Nation.
“It’s like waving a flag. They wave our song around as if it’s part of their worldview and the song has nothing to do with them,” he said.
“This is my song, expressed as something personal to me, and should not be used for their twilight worldview or dirty political maneuvering.
”[They can] Do a running jump. ”