The Foo Fighters have made their position clear after former President Donald Trump used their hit song “My Hero” at a rally – and they are not happy about it.
The song was originally released in 1997 by the US rock band – consisting of Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear, Rami Jaffee and Josh Freese – and is the most recent song to get Trump into trouble.
The tune was played at a rally in Arizona on Friday to bring wildcard candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage after he withdrew his independent candidacy and endorsed Donald Trump as the Republican candidate and hopeful for the US election.
When asked on social media whether the band had given their permission for the use, the account replied firmly: “No.”
A statement later given to PA confirmed: “The Foo Fighters were not asked for permission and even if they had been, they would not have given it.”
Representatives for the band later added to Billboard that “appropriate action will be taken” and that all royalties generated from this use will be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign.
A video of Kennedy Jr.’s appearance with the caption “Unite America” is currently available on his X-Account.
The nephew of 35th US President John F. Kennedy said he was a Democrat since birth, but accused the party of “abandoning democracy” and starting an unjust “war of rights” against him and Trump.
This is by no means the first time that the Republican presidential candidate has faced problems due to unauthorized use of music.
In the last few weeks alone, it was reported that Beyoncé threatened the Trump campaign with a cease and desist order after her song “Freedom” was used in a 13-second social media video.
The clip, uploaded by Trump spokesman Steven Cheung, shows the Republican candidate getting off a plane in Michigan, overlaid with the singer’s hit “Lemonade”; it has since been deleted.
“Freedom” is currently the unofficial anthem of Vice President Kamala Harris’s Democratic election campaign.
Other artists who have made complaints this year include Celine Dion with “My Heart Will Go On” and The Smiths with their song “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want”.
“This use is in no way authorized and Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” Céline’s statement reads. “… And really, THIS song?”
Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr replied: “Ahh… right… OK. I never thought in a million years that could happen. Consider this crap shut down immediately.”
They are in good company. The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Black Sabbath and Rihanna have also hit back against Trump over the years.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the Foo Fighters for comment.
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