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The Rolling Stones want Donald Trump to stop playing their music

They join a long list of musicians who have spoken out against the New York tycoon

Feliks Garcia
New York
Thursday 05 May 2016 17:57 BST
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(Matt Cardy/Getty)

The Rolling Stones joined a long list of pop and rock stars who have told Donald Trump he can’t always get what he wants - namely, their songs at his campaign rallies.

The London rockers issued a statement that said the presumptive GOP presidential nominee did not have permission to use any of their music during any of his public appearances.

“The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately,” the statement reads.

The AFP reports that Mr Trump had been using a number of their well-known anthems, including “Start Me Up” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, to rally his supporters at rallies across the US.

Previously, the likes of Aerosmith, Adele, and ‘90s favourites REM had spoken out against the New York tycoon’s use of their songs.

Boston’s Aerosmith issued a cease and desist letter after Mr Trump had been using their 1973 hit “Dream On” last year. The band had reportedly asked the candidate to stop using their music after a 21 August event in Alabama - but he continued, prompting legal action by the band, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The statement from lead singer Steven Tyler’s lawyers said that Mr Trump’s use of the power ballad gave “the false impression that [Tyler] is connected with or endorses [his] presidential bid.”

Similarly, a spokesperson for Adele told The Independent that the songstress had not given permission to “any political campaign” to use her songs. Mr Trump had regularly played “Rolling in the Deep” to boost the atmosphere at his rallies - often marred by hostility and violence.

When Mr Trump used the REM song “It’s the End of the World (As We Know It)” at his appearances, lead singer Michael Stipe issued a strongly worded rebuke.

“Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign,” he said, via bassist Mike Mills’ Twitter page, calling Mr Trump and other candidates “sad, attention grabbing, power-hungry little men”.

Famously, the New Jersey rockstar, Bruce Springsteen, spoke out against President Ronald Reagan during his 1984 reelection campaign. Mr Reagan had attempted to pander to New Jersey voters by connecting his values with those of the “Born in the USA” musician’s.

"America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts; it rests in the message of hope in songs so many young Americans admire: New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen,” Mr Reagan said. “And helping you make those dreams come true is what this job of mine is all about.”

Springsteen responded to Mr Reagan’s invocation onstage during a concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, distancing himself from the president.

“The president was mentioning my name the other day, and I kind of got to wondering what his favourite album of mine must’ve been, you know? I don’t think it was the Nebraska album,” he said, referring to his lesser known record, produced with only Springsteen and his guitar. “I don’t think he’s been listening to this one.”

Springsteen’s 1984 classic, “Born in the USA”, was largely critical of the effects the Vietnam War on America.

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