MUSIC:

Heart’s brush with politics

Band, in town for Hilton gig, lingers over GOP’s song grab at convention

RANDEE ST. NICHOLAS

Sisters, from left, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart have sold more than 30 million records in a decades-long career. The two moms are working on Heart’s 14th album.

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Heart - Barracuda (1977)

Who: Heart
When: 8 tonight and Saturday
Where: Las Vegas Hilton
Tickets: $81.85 to $114.85; 732-5755, www.lvhilton.com

Heart at the Las Vegas Hilton

McCain energizes Republicans (9-4-2008)

Heart

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart aren’t rabid political activists, but when they heard one of their songs being used at the Republican National Convention they were outraged.

“We were watching the McCain convention while we were on the road last summer and we saw that they were using ‘Barracuda,’ ” Nancy Wilson says from her Los Angeles home.

She’s on the phone to talk about Heart’s shows at the Las Vegas Hilton tonight and Saturday, but the interview veers toward Heart’s recent brush with politics.

Heart’s 1977 hit was being used as the theme song for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The Alaska governor had earned the nickname “Sarah Barracuda” as a basketball star at Wasilla High, and someone in the GOP campaign thought the song could introduce Palin to voters.

The sisters couldn’t grab the telephone fast enough.

“We made a bevy of calls and it turned into kind of like a pinball machine,” Wilson says.

The Wilsons issued a statement asking the Republicans to stop using the song:

“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late ’70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”

You have to wonder if anyone in any political campaign actually listens to the lyrics of chosen campaign songs. True, “Barracuda” begins with a catchy guitar riff, but soon Ann Wilson is singing: “If the real thing don’t do the trick, you better make up something quick.”

Pulling the plug on the GOP’s use of their song was the most politically active they had been in a while.

“It was the American thing to do,” says Nancy Wilson, the red-haired, guitar-playing sister. “We had an opinion. It is nice to be an American and to be able to have an opinion.”

Back in the late ’60s and early ’70s the sisters had strong opinions about politics — especially the Vietnam War. Their music careers took root in the Seattle area, but the band moved to Canada because one member was dodging the draft. It wasn’t until President Carter gave amnesty to draft evaders in 1977 that the group that would become Heart began to travel freely in the United States.

Wilson, who turns 55 next month, recalls the days of social turmoil and the peace movement.

“I got to be part of that movement. I was a youngster at the time,” she says. “But the culture was really bubbling in a beautiful way. Today I see the culture coming out again, and it’s really a good thing. We’re all coming together for humanity, and for things like love.

“Just being part of the system instead of not trusting the system is great. It’s a good time to be an American. We have a reason to hope for hope again.”

Although the Wilsons always have had a social conscience — working for human rights, animal rights and other causes, it doesn’t dominate their lives the way music does.

“We’ve never been as active politically as we have been as artists. But politics always brush up against the arts, oh, about every four years in this country,” Wilson says. “But we don’t approach songwriting or performance in terms of politics. We’re trying to elevate humanity and not preach to humanity in the way we approach our art. We’re always just trying to get a good party going.”

Both Wilsons are parents now, so they don’t have a lot of time for politics — or anything else for that matter.

“Being mothers, we try to stay home as much as possible and attend to the children,” Wilson says.

They did manage to tour last summer with Journey and Cheap Trick, but usually they spend only one week a month on the road. When they aren’t on the road or taking care of their families, they’re writing songs and in the studio working on Heart’s 14th album, which probably won’t be released till next year.

“Right now we’re trying to keep the paychecks and the album happening at the same time,” Wilson says with a laugh. “The operative word here — the party line — is ‘masterpiece.’ Creating a masterpiece takes a little longer than creating just any old song. So while we’re touring and raising children, we’re trying to come up with a masterpiece — and it may take a couple of weeks.”

Heart has sold more than 30 million records during a career that spans about 35 years. The band is doing special events to mark the 30th anniversary of its classic album “Dog & Butterfly,” and the Wilsons are writing and illustrating a children’s book to honor the album.

Nancy Wilson also scores films, often those of her husband, Cameron Crowe, the former Rolling Stone writer who went on to become an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director. They collaborated on “Almost Famous,” “Vanilla Sky” and “Elizabethtown.”

Wilson and Crowe were introduced by their best friends — rock photographer Neil Preston, who was Crowe’s roommate, and Pearl Jam (and former Heart) manager Kelly Curtis.

“They said ‘Oh my God, these two people should meet each other,’ ” Wilson says. “That was like 26 years ago. It was a match made in rock ’n’ roll heaven.”

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

By KillerB

2/6/09 at 10:19 a.m.

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To use a hit song publicly you have to get permission, it's something called a copyright. How hard is it to figure that one out?

You gotta love how this came back and bit the RNC's collective butts -- you'll find this one line of the lyrics in the article "If the real thing don't do the trick, you better make up something quick."

On the other hand that sure describes Palin.

And those clowns actually thought we wanted them to be in charge for another 4 years!
By Caliche

2/6/09 at 11:08 p.m.

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Wow. They had 'an opinion.' What an epiphany! Rockers with an opinion.

They should have been bumping fists with Sarah Barracuda as a representative of the American woman of the 21st century instead of whining like elitists.

What don't they like about Sarah? The fact she is pro-life? A happily married woman? what? Sarah gave their tired tune a new life, and all they can do is act politically correct. What dopes.
By KillerB

2/7/09 at 7:47 a.m.

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What a stupid comment.

You can't seem to grasp the illegality of what the RNC did. Unless you live in a completely insular bubble, every time you pop in a dvd what do you see? That FBI warning about copyright infringement. Check out the small print on every cd you buy -- "Copyright 1977 All rights reserved."

And as one who bought and listened to "Dreamboat Annie" back in the day, Seattle's Wilson sisters were and are exceptional as people and musicians.

To see their original notice to McCain/Palin you can go to http://www.rejecttheherd.net/forum/ann-a...

Much better than this belated article.
By 9ballguy

2/7/09 at 2:14 p.m.

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Good for you Ann and Nancy! If McCain and Palin had used any of my music I would have done the same. And just the fact that their campaign used it without first getting permission shows their ignorance.
By 9ballguy

2/7/09 at 2:18 p.m.

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My main problem with Palin was her her "holier than thou platform of morality" when she has a daughter who is pregnant out of wedlock! People in glass houses.......................
By getalife

2/7/09 at 3:31 p.m.

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KillerB, before you get you panties in a bunch you should probably realise that "bump" music is used a lot without permission.

Good to know a member of the band dodged the draft.

I like the situational ethos they use. "It is nice to be an American and to be able to have an opinion."

An opinion that had them flee america for their band mate.

Luckily they are only a band and not somebodies life force. Well unless you're pinheads like them.

9ballguy, you shouldn't get your news from the daily Kos, she never did the "holier than thou" thing.
By KillerB

2/7/09 at 3:32 p.m.

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9ballguy -- Right on!

I would have said "arrogance" instead of "ignorance."

Just remember this little episode in history next time you pop in dvd and see that "you're a bad boy and we're gonna come for you" FBI/Interpol warning.
By KillerB

2/8/09 at 10:50 a.m.

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getalife -- I assure you my panties are fine
By johnevegas

2/8/09 at 11:09 a.m.

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"Wow. They had 'an opinion.' What an epiphany! Rockers with an opinion."

Gee, how unusual that a right-winger would dismiss a rocker's opinions, and for the billionth time, overlook that it has always been the artists who speak the public's mind. Wow! Speaking of elitist! Your post illustrates that so well.

I love Ann and Nancy. I love them both. They are two of a rare breed and examples the best of woman. They are welcome at my house anytime!

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