REM: Take That Donald Trump, ‘Cease And Desist,’ ‘Go F*** Yourself’
Donald Trump is once again making headlines for his use of musicians’ music who don’t share is political views. First, it was Neil Young, this time it’s R.E.M.
When Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign on June 16, he entered the lobby of the Trump Tower in Manhattan with Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World” blaring in the background.
Young quickly expressed his displeasure through the media with Trump’s use of his music. Trump fired right back calling Young a “total hypocrite” and tweeted recent pictures of himself with Young, and reported that Young had recently asked him for money.
The Trump campaign also pointed out they had licensed and paid for the for the use of Young’s music through the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, as reported by The Huffington Post. Trump’s campaign did state that they would not use Young’s music again.
On Wednesday, Trump and fellow republican Ted Cruz, spoke at a Tea Party rally. After Cruz addressed those gathered, Trump took to the stage with “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M. playing.
The use of the R.E.M song was quickly pointed out to R.E.M. band members through social media. R.E.M. founding member Mike Mills responded, stating that Trump and Cruz should “Cease and desist.” Making light of Trump’s hair color and the R.E.M hit “Orange Crush,” the R.E.M. bassist also tweeted about the “Orange Clown.”
@DavidCornDC Cease and desist.
— Mike Mills ???????? ??? (@m_millsey) September 9, 2015
Personally, I think the Orange Clown will do anything for attention. I hate giving it to him.
— Mike Mills ???????? ??? (@m_millsey) September 9, 2015
The R.E.M. song, however, is available for licensing through Broadcast Music Inc. and knowing Trump, it is probable that his campaign paid for, and received proper permission, before using the R.E.M. classic — this has yet to be verified.
“Go f**k 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,” fellow R.E.M. founding member Michael Stipe was quoted by Mills on Twitter. R.E.M also made an official statement on Facebook.
“While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates…
Posted by R.E.M. on Wednesday, September 9, 2015
While it is clear that the R.E.M. members are unhappy (to say the least) with Trump, Cruz and the Tea Party using the R.E.M. hit, if the song was properly licensed, there would likely be little the musicians could do to stop it.
However, as the Trump campaign appeared to understand with its run-in with Young, using R.E.M’s work against their will, even when paid for and properly licensed, could cause a backlash. Trump being Trump, it might be expected that the Republican will have some choice words for Mills, Stipe, and R.E.M. today.
What do you think about the R.E.M./Trump brouhaha? Should Trump have asked first? Is R.E.M making too much of Trump’s use of their song?
[Michael Stipe Photo by Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images — Donald Trump Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images]
