NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Foo Fighters have blasted the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain for using the band's song "My Hero" at rallies without its permission.

Previously, Jackson Browne filed suit against the McCain campaign for using his song "Running on Empty" without consent.

"It's frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property," the band said in a statement. "The saddest thing about this is that 'My Hero' was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song."

The rock group Heart was also dismayed at the use of its song "Barracuda" for events featuring McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, and co-writer Roger Fisher has said he will give a portion of his royalty income to the Democrats.

Reuters/Billboard

Perhaps the FBI is standing guard.

Word, according to Billboard, is that Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" will finally see the fluorescent lights of retail outlets on Nov. 23, the Sunday before the big Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend. Additionally, the album will be a retail exclusive to big box outlet Best Buy.

But those who want to avoid hordes of shoppers clamoring for a Wii Fit need not fear. Certainly the first-week Best Buy price will be cheaper than the major label wholesale cost. The end result, as when the Eagles partnered with a mass merchant, is that other retailers will likely just buy the album from Best Buy and stock it themselves, unless federal agents will be retained to enforce the maximum purchase limit.

The strategically-timed release will undoubtedly pump up first-week sales for the much-ballyhooed record, one that has been so overly hyped and ridiculously guarded that a blogger was actually charged with a felony for leaking many of the songs. It will be interesting to see how fans respond after the initial week of curiosity has passed, and if the story of the album will prove to be more interesting than the actual album, especially after years of on-and-off tours and promises that the record would be coming soon, really!

A recent conversation with a music industry manager had this usually insightful fellow proclaiming that "Chinese Democracy" would sell more than 1 million copies in its first week, but I can't see that happening. Guns N' Roses has hype but hasn't been consistently feeding its fanbase, a la Lil Wanye, and the band did little to show that it didn't have an antagonistic relationship with its fans after "Chinese Democracy" hit the Web this summer.

And that doesn't take into account that Guns N' Roses is essentially a classic rock band these days. Boo and hiss all you want, but the band, after all, is taking a page from Don Henley and Co. to release the album. What's next? A song exclusive "Guitar Hero" or "Rock Band"? Actually, yes, as the album's "Shackler's Revenge" will debut in "Rock Band 2."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt and The Offspring are collecting merchandise and memorabilia to auction off to help fund fellow California rocker Allen Shellenberger's brain tumor battle.

Lit star Shellenberger, 39, was diagnosed with a grade four malignant brain tumor at the beginning of the summer and is currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments at the Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute in Los Angeles.

And the stars are lining up to offer signed clothing, equipment and memorabilia for an upcoming auction, which will help fund Shellenberger's medical costs.

The Make A Noise Foundation is sponsoring an auction through Ebay's Giving Works Program to help offset Allen's medical costs. All proceeds will benefit Allen Shellenberger and Cedars-Sinai's Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute in Los Angeles.

The four members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers have signed a copy of their Stadium Arcadium album for the auction, while No Doubt are selling off an autographed amplifier.

Shellenberger's bandmates have offered to auction off dinner with a fan, and former James Bond Pierce Brosnan has handed over one of his paintings for the online sale, in addition to merchandise donated and/or signed by Donna Summer, the Offspring, Judd Apatow, James Taylor, Nickelback, Maroon 5, and more. The auction is currently underway on eBay.com.
 
If, in this crashing economy, you have the spare change to help out a rocker in need, please donate.  He is not a rich man.  Lit had two hits: My Own Worst Enemy and Miserable, which are both oddly ironic right now.

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