Steven Tyler is the latest rocker, among several, to take issue with Donald Trump.
The Aerosmith frontman asked the billionaire to stop using the band’s classic rock hit “Dream On” at his campaign events and rallies in a cease-and-desist letter Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
However, only two days later, a defiant Trump walked onto the stage to “Dream On” at the “No Labels Problem Solver Convention” in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Trump does “not have our client’s permission to use ‘Dream On'” or any of Tyler’s music because doing so “gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid,” the letter says.
Tyler’s attorney Dina LaPolt said that this is a copyright issue and not a “political” or “personal issue” with Trump.
The Trump campaign did not respond to CNN request for comment, but said the issue was resolved Monday morning.
Last month, R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe blasted Trump for playing “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” on the campaign trail.
And in July, Trump got into a heated spat with rock singer Neil Young, after he asked Trump to stop playing “Rockin’ in The Free World” at his rallies.
“Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement,” a statement from Young’s management company said. “Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.”
Trump fired back at Young in a series of Tweets:
All of which raises a question: In a world in which songs are reappropriated all the time to sell things like computers, sneakers, and car insurance, is it odd that the same people who sing, “This land is your land, this land is my land,” may also say, “This song is my song, it can’t be your song”?
To be fair to Republican campaign strategists, song selection for rallies must be challenging. Were they to stick to songs by artists who are fans of their party, the field of material available to them would be narrow indeed: country music (a rich trove of material, but not beloved by the entire electorate) plus a handful of rock acts including right-of-center Kid Rock and outspoken right-winger Ted Nugent.
Source: Aerosmith’s singer to Donald Trump: Stop using ‘Dream On’ – CNNPolitics.com
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