Ross Wilson ProfileDays after members of The Seekers and The Bushwackers spoke out against their timeless song I Am Australian being misused by the conservative CPAC Australia conference, Daddy Cool's Ross Wilson has offered his thoughts on his own music being used in a similar manner.
Over the weekend, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference took place in Brisbane, where speakers such as One Nation’s Pauline Hanson, Liberal Party leader Angus Taylor, and others gathered to speak on numerous issues.
That same day also saw numerous speakers calling for an end to "mass immigration", with the event's opening ceremony featuring an airing of the 1987 track I Am Australian, penned by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers alongside The Bushwackers' Dobe Newton.
The pair were incensed by the use of their song, with Woodley issuing a statement to note that, "No permission was either sought or given by me for the use of my song."
"I would absolutely never endorse the use of the song associated with those purposes," Newton echoed in reference to the conference's themes of condemning mass immigration.
Days prior, One Nation held a Victorian rally, where politician Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell used Daddy Cool's enduring 1971 single Eagle Rock as her walk-on music.
Speaking to News Corp's Confidential this week, Daddy Cool vocalist Ross Wilson offered a different viewpoint on the use of his music.
"I love that song, it’s the foundation of my professional career, but I don’t want it to be misused," he explained.
As he continued, he pointed out that as long as the song is used in a non-political manner, and does not endorse policies or promote division, it's fair game.
"If they use it as a theme for their campaign, that’s another thing altogether," he added. "But [One Nation] didn’t do that. Maybe it was the candidate’s favourite song.
"I wasn’t at the rally, and I don’t know how much of our song was played. Eagle Rock is a song that has been enjoyed by all Australians. It’s a song that brings people together. It’s not about division."
"However, if it is taken as some kind of endorsement of a political party’s policies, then that is not what’s happening here," Wilson continued.
"As the writer of the song, and as a member of Daddy Cool, we don’t endorse anybody’s political parties. If it is used in a way that suggests we endorse any political statements or policies, Daddy Cool says that’s not cool."
Wilson also pointed out that he has taken a political stance in many songs previously, including the likes of 1976's Living In The Land Of Oz, which he pointed out addressed the likes of "the White Australia policy, migration and what happened to First Nations people".
Though Wilson hasn't taken a hard stance against the likes of One Nation utilising his song in the same way that Woodley and Newton objected to CPAC's use, other acts have spoken out against unauthorised use of their music.
Last year, GANGgajang took to social media to point out that their 1985 single Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia) had been utilised “without our permission in a hateful racist 30 minute video.”
“It’s [a] deeply disturbing development for us and we ask for your support while we work this out,” they continued. “The band deplores the sentiment in the video and what the organisation stands for.”
Months earlier, the widespread March For Australia rallies saw songs by Cold Chisel and Icehouse (including Flame Trees and Great Southern Land, respectively) used without permission by the artists who first performed them.
For what it's worth, APRA AMCOS points out that if a song is used without permission by copyright owners, it risks breaching the Copyright Act 1968.
Likewise, music licenses issued by OneMusic Australia – which are typically held by venues – will not cover the use of music at a political event "if that music is used in a way that suggests an affiliation with a political party".
What this means is that if an event such as CPAC or a party such as One Nation wish to use copyrighted music, express permission must be given.
GANGgajang's Mark Callaghan also said this week that the unauthorised usage of I Am Australia by CPAC was illegal.
"The bottom line is permission must be sought and approved for any public performance, especially in that political context," he said.
"We are finding it’s a real problem all over the internet because people put up political posts and then add Sounds Of Then, or I Am Australian or Great Southern Land and implying some sort of connection."
In January of this year, Dave Faulkner of the Hoodoo Gurus also weighed in on One Nation having used What's My Scene? at a January 26 rally in Brisbane.
Describing One Nation as “a bunch of wannabe fascists,” Faulkner and the band said they’re “appalled” by Hanson’s usual rhetoric and expressed their distaste for her supporters, going as far as to tell them not to play their music.
“We were disgusted to hear that one of our songs was played by a bunch of wannabe fascists yesterday (One Nation),” the band posted on Tuesday (27 January).
They continued, “Like most Australians, we have always been appalled by Pauline Hanson and the toxic nonsense she spouts. This is our message to her and her followers: don’t play our music, don’t listen to our band, do not pass go! We want nothing to do with you.”
