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
A Cease and Desist order is being issued to prevent the Mitt Romney presidential campaign from making any further use Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy's music.
The Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan made his entrance at the Republican National Convention two weeks ago to the strains of the Thin Lizzy classic, 'The Boys Are Back In Town', written by Philip Lynott. The track has also been used at the Superbowl, confirming its status as one of hard rock's great anthems.
The order, Hot Press understands, is being issued by Universal Music, the record company which has rights to the Thin Lizzy catalogue, on the instructions of Caroline Lynott-Taraskevics, who is one of the controllers of the Philip Lynott estate. Caroline was Philip's wife and is mother of his two daughters, Sarah and Cathleen.
"It is too late to stop it happening, but it will prevent a recurrence," Caroline said in a message, the contents of which have been passed on to Hot Press with her consent.
"In America, the record company gives permission, so we have told them to issue a Cease and Desist order to the Republican Party," Caroline added. "Absolutely in no way would Philip have supported Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan and he would have been so happy about Obama becoming US President."
While the controls that the estate can put into effect are limited in certain respects, Caroline has asserted her determination that the music should not be mis-used for political purposes of which Philip would not have approved.
"I don't know how this happened," Caroline stated, "but it will be rectified. As far as I am able, I want to try to ensure that Philip's legacy remains true to him as an individual. I am powerless over much of what goes on, but where I have a say, I do what I believe Philip would have done."
Caroline was alerted to the issue by Jim Fitzpatrick, the artist who designed many of Thin Lizzy's album sleeves.
"She was as upset as I was when I heard the music being used in this way," Fitzpatrick told Hot Press. "Philip would have been appalled, I have no doubt about that. Apart from anything else, being mixed race, he'd have identified very strongly with Barack Obama."
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