foo fighters refuse trump's use of my hero at rally
Last updated on August 26th, 2024 at 10:06 am
Donald Trump’s campaign team made miles of lousy decisions by playing the popular rock band Foo Fighters’ very famous song, “My Hero,” not having asked for permission during a political rally in Glendale, Arizona. This happened on August 23, 2024, when Trump was welcoming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage.
Playing a song at any political event is not that easy. There are very strong emotions taken by musicians and their teams about who uses their music and in what context. This infuriates the artists, especially when they are used by a politician with whom they disagree.
The group did not take much time to react. They clarified that:
1. Nobody consulted them to clear this.
2. They’d have refused if asked, apparently.
3. They’re now “taking all appropriate actions” against Trump’s campaign. This most probably means pursuing legal steps to prohibit future use.
They’ll donate any money they might get from Trump using the song to the Harris/Walz campaign. It’s a way for the band to demonstrate that they have no support for Trump’s use of their music.
Trump introduced Kennedy as a man who’s “very low-key” but “highly respected.” As Kennedy walked onto the stage, music of the chorus of “My Hero” started blaring. There were even special effects with flash pots going off to really drive the drama home.
To drive the point home, the Foo Fighters turned to social media. In reply to one follower who asked if the band had given permission for the song to be used at the rally, their account responded with a simple “No.” The band then tweeted this conversation, with the added comment, “Let us be clear.” This really gives a sense that it was very important to them that people know they didn’t give permission for this usage.
This isn’t the first time it has happened to the Trump campaign. Indeed, only in recent days have they had similar problems with other famous musicians:
1. Beyoncé: The same week, Trump’s team used a song by Beyoncé, “Freedom,” in a video. Beyoncé’s team quickly sent a legal notice telling them to stop.
2. Isaac Hayes: Earlier this month, the estate of Isaac Hayes issued a demand to Trump to stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at rallies, arguing that he has been doing so without permission since 2022.
When politicians play songs at rallies or use them in ads, some people may believe the musicians endorse that politician. That’s why many artists are eager to speak out when their music is used — especially in politics — without their permission.
The Trump campaign has made no comment to date on playing these songs without an invitation. They could well be embroiled in copyright infringement litigation for further uses of musical numbers sans permission.
On a different note, this helps clear up where the Foo Fighters stand. Given that it makes a huge political statement when they donate the money that may come to another campaign, it’ll drive home a clear message.
The incident speaks volumes about the intricate relationship that exists between politics and popular culture: a song from 1997 which has now been mixed up in today’s politics.
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