ROCK LEGENDS REM have hit back against US Republican Presidential front-runner Donald Trump, after he used one of their biggest hits at a rally in Washington DC yesterday.
The event, hosted by the “Tea Party Patriots”, was organised to galvanise opposition to the Obama administration’s recent nuclear deal with Iran.
It featured speeches by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck, presidential candidate and US Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, as well as Trump.
Before beginning his remarks, the bombastic real estate billionaire took to the podium to the sound of REM’s 1987 song It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).
The relevant section begins at 48:39.
Mike Mills, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist for the band, which broke up after 30 years in 2011, reacted on Twitter, when his attention was drawn to the use of their song:
Shortly afterwards, lead singer Michael Stipe made this statement, via Mills, addressing political candidates using the band’s music without authorisation:
Go fuck yourselves, the lot of you – you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men.
Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.
Members of REM have been left-leaning activists for decades, famously performing at President Bill Clinton’s 1993 Inaugural Ball, and joining the Vote For Change tour to support Democrat John Kerry’s 2004 Presidential campaign.
Last night, an official statement on behalf of the band appeared on their Facebook page, asking candidates to “cease and desist” from using their songs, but pleading with the public to “focus on the bigger picture.”
Trump, who is dominating the Republican presidential primary, this summer got into trouble for using Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World at an event to launch his campaign.
In response, the singer’s management team released this statement on his behalf:
Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement.
Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for president of the United States of America.
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