The Roots Must Get Thumbs Up From NBC for Jimmy Fallon Music
(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
The Roots are getting reigned in after their controversial incident last month with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon guest Michele Bachmann. Questlove has confirmed that network executives at NBC are now seeking pre-approval for many of the songs the band plays on the show.
"[I've] gotta clear a lot of the song choices," the drummer told the Associated Press. "It's still a comedy show, so they promise not to step on my toes or that type of thing, but they definitely want to know the title of the song, the subject matter of the song, can it be seen as an insult?"
The move by NBC follows the appearance by congresswoman and Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann on the show on November 22. The Roots made headlines the next day after they elected to play the Fishbone song "Lyin' Ass B****" as Bachmann's walk-on music.
Reflecting on the incident, Questlove said he understands NBC's reaction, and that he probably should have given them a heads-up about the implicit political statement.
"It was kind of wrong for me to throw (NBC) under the bus without telling them what it was, so I understand from a business standpoint," he said.
The Roots' 13th album, Undun, was released on Tuesday.
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