Watching the Republican Convention, I couldn’t help wondering whether all those left-wing musicians whose songs they were playing (Heart, Van Halen, etc.) had given permission for their work to be used. The answer: no.

Ann and Nancy Wilson are pissed at the Republican Party and have fired off a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign.

Specifically, the Heart women are upset that the GOP has used their classic “Barracuda” as a theme song for Sarah Palin. TMZ obtained a statement from Heart’s rep, who says “The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission.”

The statement goes on: “We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored.”

(Hat tip: LGF readers.)