Rolling Stones lash out at Donald Trump

Band asks politico to stop using their music at campaign events

The Rolling Stones have become the latest musicians to ask US Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump to stop using their songs in his campaign events, reported AFP. In a statement, the rock legends attempted to keep their songs under their collective thumb, saying that they have not given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and “have requested that they cease all use immediately”.

Trump, an avid music fan, has featured The Rolling Stones songs at his rallies for months as part of a diverse soundtrack that includes Elton John, opera and classic rock songs, reported The Guardian. The Rolling Stones’ 1969 classic You Can’t Always Get What You Want was a popular song for his events, and during an event on Tuesday night, the campaign played Start Me Up.

The Stones join a growing number of musicians who have expressed anger at Trump’s use of their music at rallies, which have repeatedly been marred by violence. Everlast, whose real name is Erik Schrody, earlier demanded Trump to stop playing Jump Around by the rapper’s former band House of Pain. “I would love to meet you and smack that comb-over right off your scalp,” Everlast wrote on Instagram in one of his less profane statements, describing Trump as “ignorant” and “racist”.

Other artists such as Adele and Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler asked the candidate to stop using their recorded songs to fire up crowds. “Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning,” a statement from the singer’s spokesperson said. Neil Young also objected when Trump used Rockin’ in the Free World during his campaign kick-off announcement last year. In these cases, Trump’s campaigners stopped using the songs.

Trump has an uncontested path to the Republican presidential nomination after his victory in Indiana’s primary on Thursday pushed remaining challengers Ted Cruz and then Ohio Governor John Kasich out of the race.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.

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