Imagine finding out that something you created was helping one of the most extreme and repugnant politicians out there on their campaign trail.
That’s exactly what happened to the members of American rock band REM, after they were informed that Donald Trump and his Republican chums had used one of their songs at a public event.
Trump was at a rally to protest the peace deal that President Obama had brokered with Iran, and used REM’s ‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It’ as his intro music upon entering the stage.
Lead-singer Michael Stipe was not best pleased at the unauthorised borrowing the band’s 1987 hit, and issued the following short but sweet statement via bandmate Mike Mills’ Twitter account:
Upcoming is Michael's statement about Trump using our song at the rally. His opinions are HIS, please do not tweet angry responses at me.
— Sweet Daddy Cool ✌️🇺🇦 🌸⚾️🇨🇦 (@m_millsey) September 9, 2015
"Go fuck yourselves, the lot of you–you sad, attention grabbing, power-hungry little men. Do not use our music or my voice for your 1)
— Sweet Daddy Cool ✌️🇺🇦 🌸⚾️🇨🇦 (@m_millsey) September 9, 2015
…moronic charade of a campaign."–Michael Stipe
— Sweet Daddy Cool ✌️🇺🇦 🌸⚾️🇨🇦 (@m_millsey) September 9, 2015
A more tempered response appeared on the band’s office website:
“While we do not authorise or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so, let us remember that there are things of greater importance at stake here.
“The media and the American voter should focus on the bigger picture, and not allow grandstanding politicians to distract us from the pressing issues of the day and of the current Presidential campaign.”
We can’t help but feel that the band’s 2008 single ‘Hollow Man’ would be a more apt choice for Trump.
