The Canadian rock band Rush has written Kentucky Republican Rand Paul's Senate campaign to request that their music no longer be used at events, according to a story in the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Robert Farmer, general counsel for the band's record label, tells Gannett colleague James Carroll that the Paul campaign does not have the band's permission to use the music, including the 1980 song The Spirit of Radio, at political rallies.

"This is not a political issue -- this is a copyright issue," Farmer said. "We would do this no matter who it is."

Jesse Benton, Paul's campaign manager, tells the paper that, "The background music Dr. Paul has played at events is a non-issue. The issues that matter in this campaign are cutting out-of-control deficits, repealing Obama Care and opposing cap and trade."

Battles over the use of music at campaign events are not uncommon. David Byrne of Talking Heads fame made news last week when he sued Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for using the 1985 single Road to Nowhere in his Senate campaign without permission.

(Posted by John Fritze)