June 16, 2015 On the same day he announced his candidacy, Trump was denounced by Canadian-born singer-songwriter Neil Young, who put out a statement saying Trump was “not authorized” to play ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ at his announcement and noting that Young was a supporter of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
September 9, 2015 Rock band R.E.M. said they “do not authorize or condone” Trump playing ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It’ at a rally to oppose the Iran deal, with bassist Mike Mills telling Trump to, “cease and desist,” and lead singer Michael Stipe tweeting, “Go **** 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."
October 14, 2015 Trump begrudgingly agreed to stop using the music of 70’s rock band Aerosmith, tweeting that lead singer Stephen Tyler “asked me not to,” and declaring he’d “have better one to take its place,” later claiming in a follow-up tweet that Tyler “got more publicity on his song request than he’s gotten in ten years.”
February 1, 2016 A spokesperson for Adele decried Trump’s use of her songs ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Rolling in the Deep’ at his rallies, saying in a statement that the British pop singer “has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning.”
February 2, 2016 British singer Elton John, a staple of the Trump presidency whose song ‘Rocketman’ was the inspiration for Trump’s eponymous nickname for North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, slammed Trump for using his music, later saying it was “nothing personal” and that he doesn’t want his music used in American elections.
July 19, 2016 British rock band Queen persistently hit Trump and the GOP over their use of their use of ‘We Are The Champions’ at the 2016 Republican National Convention, saying in a statement that they were “frustrated by the repeated unauthorized use of the song after a previous request to desist,” and that the band “does not want its associated with any mainstream or political debate in any country.”
July 20, 2016 R&B groups Earth, Wind & Fire and The O’Jays echoed Queen’s complaints about the Republican Convention over the GOP’s use of ‘September’ and ‘Love Train,’ with Earth, Wind & Fire tweeting “Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes,” and the O’Jays saying Trump “may be the anti-Christ.”
July 22, 2016 British bands The Beatles and The Rolling Stones both decried the use of their music at the Republican Convention as well, with the estate of the late Beatles singer George Harrison stating, “The unauthorized use of ‘Here Comes the Sun’ at the RNC is offensive & against the wishes of the George Harrison estate,” joking that they may have approved the use of ‘Beware of Darkness.’