Royalties for Kamala – Foo Fighters take on Donald Trump

Trump played the song during a performance in Arizona when his new running mate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came on stage. Frontman Dave Grohl and his bandmates Pat Smear, Josh Freese, Chris Shiflett, Nate Mandel and Rami Jafree joined in.

Under the caption “Just to be clear,” the band posted a screenshot of a brief conversation with a fan who asked, “Hey Foo Fighters, did you allow Trump to use ‘My Hero’ to introduce RFK Jr.?”: “No!” Followed by a statement from management: “The Foo Fighters were not asked. If she had, she would not have given permission!”

“Whether you left-wing germs like it or not”
As a result, the Foo Fighters were attacked on social media by supporters of the ex-president with malicious comments such as “stupid” or “Our hero does what he wants – whether you leftist germs like it or not.” A spokesperson for the Trump camp reminded that everyone has the right to use songs for public performances – as long as the due royalties are paid.

The royalties are now ringing in Kamala Harris’ coffers
But now the Foo Fighters are fighting back, and their action is sure to infuriate the ex-president. Thanks to the band, the payment for the song’s licensing rights is now going into Kamala Harris’ campaign coffers. A spokesperson for the rock group confirmed to People that Trump’s royalties have been transferred to the Harris-Walz campaign account.

Beyoncé is said to have already contacted her lawyers
The Foo Fighters are just the latest in a long list of music greats whose hits have been publicly performed by Trump without prior consultation. He last stepped off his plane in Michigan on August 20 to the sound of Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The singer, a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party, is said to have already hired her lawyers.

Other examples of musicians who opposed Trump and campaigned with their songs:

• Adele complained in 2016 that Trump had used her hits “Skyfall” and “Rolling in the Deep” without permission during campaign performances. The British singer later clarified that she supports Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.

• Aerosmith Products Foreman Steven Tyler was outraged when Trump played “Dream On” in 2015 and “Living on the Edge” at his 2018 events, with his lawyers sending cease and desist letters each time.
• Ah-ha were shocked when “Take On Me” blared from the speakers during a Trump performance in October 2019. Band member Magne Furuholmen then wrote, “Our song was never intended to be used by a campaign to divide the world.” Shortly after, A-ha wrote the song “This is Now America” — a direct attack on the Trump administration.
• George Harrison fans Erben protested when Trump introduced his daughter Ivanka to the Beatles hit “Here Comes the Sun” (written by Harrison) at the 2016 Republican General Convention. With the added bonus that Trump is welcome to use the Harrison song “Beware of Darkness.”

• Bruce Springsteen was not pleased when Trump repeatedly walked onto the “Born in the USA” stage in 2016. Instead of threatening legal action, the “boss” publicly announced his support for Hillary Clinton and even campaigned for her.

• John Fogerty (foreman of Credence Clearwater Revival) sent a cease and desist letter to Trump’s campaign after the cult hit “Fortunate Son” was played in October 2020: “Trump is using my words and my voice to advance a message I do not support.” Biden on his TikTok.

Elton John demanded that Trump stop playing his songs “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer” in 2016, arguing that as a British musician he should not have any influence on American politics. Instead, he suggested using only the music of Trump supporters.

• Axl Roos had directly banned the Trump campaign at its request in 2018 Guns-N’-Roses-Here, the hit ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ is played during a campaign stop. When the then-president did it anyway, the singer scolded X: “This is a music rights loophole being exploited for disgusting political purposes.”

• Linkin Parks The hit song “In the End” was featured as a cover version in an online commercial on Twitter for Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign. The band’s lawyers were able to force the clip to be removed from the social media platform, citing the late frontman Chester Benningtonwhich Trump called “a greater threat to the United States than terrorism.”

• Leonard Cohens The estate manager complained in a public statement that Trump had used the global hit “Hallelujah” at the Republican National Convention in August 2020 despite an express ban: “We offer that Trump instead play Leonard’s song ‘You Want It Darker’ (in German: ‘Du “I want it darker.”).”

• Ozzy Osbourne nearly spat out a bat’s head in anger when Trump used his iconic song “Crazy Train” in a negative ad against Joe Biden 2020. The “Prince of Darkness” told the Trump campaign team that “my music has no place in politics.”

• Phil Collins’ The legal team sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign in October 2020 after he used “In the Air Tonight” at an event in Iowa.

• Princes The estate manager strongly condemned Trump’s 2019 campaign performance to the tune of “Purple Rain,” and released a 2018 letter in which the Trump campaign promised not to use Prince hits.

• Queens Brian May immediately sentenced to standstill!”

• Rihanna did not hesitate to have her lawyers threaten a court order after Trump played “Don’t Stop The Music” at his events in 2018. RiRi’s lawyers also stated on behalf of their client that she “has no connection or proximity to Trump and does not support his campaign.”

• The Rolling Stones player defended themselves against Trump’s use of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ with a cease and desist order in 2016. When he played the hit again at a campaign event in June 2020, he stopped playing it Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the owner of the music rights Broadcast music Incl. a lawsuit.