Queen joins list of bands threatening legal action against Donald Trump

Rock band Queen has joined calls from other top artists telling Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump not to use their music in his bid to get to the White House.

Brian May of Queen + Adam Lambert perform in Melbourne at Rod Laver Arena on 29 August 2014. (AAP Image/Noise 11/Ros O'Gorman) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Queen guitarist Brian May has told Donald Trump stop using the bands music in his political campaign. Source: AAP

Rock band Queen is the latest to tell presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to stop using their music at his campaign rallies.

Brian May, the band's founding member, wrote on his website "this is not an official Queen statement, but I can confirm permission to use the track was neither sought nor given" after he received an "avalanche of complaints".

His reaction came after Mr Trump played the 1977 hit We are the champions before a speech following the final Republican primaries on Tuesday.
Mr May vowed to "disassociate ourselves from Donald Trump's unsavoury campaign" in reply to letters from fans on his page.

He said, "regardless of our views on Mr Trump's platform, it has always been against our policy to allow Queen music to be used as a political campaigning tool.

"Our music embodies our own dreams and beliefs, but it is for all who care to listen and enjoy."

Queen is not the only band to complain about the use of their songs during political campaigns.

In the last 12 months six other artists have complained about the use of their music by Mr Trump.

In June last year Canadian artist Neil Young wrote a lengthy Facebook post after Trump played Rocking in the free world.

He said he did not like the current political system in the US and would had said "no" if asked to allow his music to be used for the candidate.

Mr Trump later Tweeted "Didn't love it anyway".
Later in September R.E.M sent a strong message to Mr Trump after he used their song It's the end of the world as we know it at a Washington D.C rally. 

Founding member Mike Mills Tweeted "go f*** yourselves... Do not use our music or my voice for your 1"

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler told Mr Trump to stop using the band's music after Dream on was played in New Hampshire in October. 

British singer Adele in February made it clear she didn't give permission for anyone to use her music for political campaigns. 

Adele's spokesman issued a statement after Mr Trump played her song Rolling in the Deep.

In May this year, the Rolling Stones ordered Mr Trump to immediately stop using their songs when he used Start me up after his Indiana primary win.
"The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately," a spokesperson for the band told Time. 

He's also been known to play You can't always get what you want and Sympathy for the devil by the band. 

Mr Trump has not been the only politician who has been told to not use certain music.

Dropkick Murphys has told Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to stop using their music in any way, Tweeting "we iterally hate you !!!"

A federal law suit was filed against former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee from the co-writer of the 1980s hit Eye of the tiger after the song was used at a rally. 


With Reuters.

 


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Queen joins list of bands threatening legal action against Donald Trump | SBS News