Uh-oh. There’s a big problem with the new Green Day single

January 17, 2020 Alan Cross 0 Comments 1 min read

A new single from Green Day’s upcoming album, Father of All, has a big problem embedded within it.

The track, called “Oh Yeah,” samples Joan Jett’s 1981 hit, “Do You Wanna Touch Me.” So far, so good. Joan is cool.

That song is a cover of a 1973 recording by convicted, jailed, and disgraced serial pedophile, Gary Glitter.

As he is the original composer of this song, Glitter is (technically, at least) entitled to royalties from the Green Day song. You see the problem.

Green Day realizes the issue this creates, so they’re trying to maneuver around it.

And yes that’s a @joanjett sample you’re hearing. Since one of the writers on that song is a total asshole, we decided to donate our royalties from Oh Yeah! to @IJM and @RAINN
— Green Day (@GreenDay) January 16, 2020

A reminder to always check the source of your samples, kids.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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