All the Musicians Who Have Stopped Trump Using Their Music

Donald Trump's campaign has seen a number of musicians and bands declaring they do not want their music played at his events.

The latest artist to protest the use of a track at a rally is Panic! At the Disco frontman Brendon Urie, who tweeted the President to demand he stop using his band's songs at his events.

Urie is certainly not the first musician to oppose the use of his music at the President's rallies, in fact, there is quite a long list of stars who have tried to put a stop to it.

Here are all the musicians who have stopped Trump using their music from Rihanna to R.E.M.

Brendon Urie

The song that sparked the controversy again this week is "High Hopes,"—Trump walked onto the stage at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona, with Urie telling the President he was "not invited" to use the track.

He tweeted Wednesday: "Dear Trump Campaign, F*** you. You're not invited. Stop playing my song. No thanks, Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco & company."

Tom Petty's estate

The estate of the late Tom Petty issued the president with a cease-and-desist earlier this month saying the performer "would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate."

The 1989 song "I Won't Back Down" was reportedly played at President Trump's comeback rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week.

The statement was signed Adria, Annakim, Dana, and Jane Petty and shared on the singer's official Twitter page from Petty's children, widow, and first wife.

"Tom wrote this song for the underdog, for the common man and for EVERYONE," they noted, adding: "We believe in America and we believe in democracy. But Donald Trump is not representing the noble ideals of either."

Prince's estate

Trump was reportedly using one of the late Prince's most iconic songs, "Purple Rain," at his pre-Midterm rallies in 2018.

Prince's brother, Omarr Baker, released a statement on behalf of the family asking Trump to stop playing the song.

"The Prince Estate has never given permission to President Trump or The White House to use Prince's songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately," the statement read.

Rihanna

Pop legend Rihanna was not impressed when she discovered via Twitter that Trump had been using her song "Please Don't Stop the Music" in 2018 in Chattanooga, TN.

She tweeted in response to journalist Philip Rucker at the time: "Not for much longer...me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip!"

Rolling Stone later reported that her team sent out a cease-and-desist.

Steven Tyler

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler tried to get Trump to stop playing his band's music back in 2015, but responded again in 2018 when "Livin' on the Edge" was played at a rally.

Tyler's team then sent out a formal cease-and-desist notice.

"By using 'Livin' On The Edge' without our client's permission, Mr. Trump is falsely implying that our client, once again, endorses his campaign and/or his presidency, as evidenced by actual confusion seen from the reactions of our client's fans all over social media," the letter reads, per CBS News.

Pharrell Williams

William's hit "Happy" was played at a rally in October 2018, prompting the singer and producer to issue the president with a formal cease and desist letter.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it read: "There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose."

The tragedy was the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.

It also said Williams "has not and will not" give the Trump administration permission to use his music.

Neil Young

Among the first to oppose Trump using his music, Young's battle started over the song "Rockin' in the Free World" back in 2015 when it was used during the then-candidate's presidential announcement.

Rolling Stone published this statement from Young's representatives: "Donald Trump was not authorized to use 'Rockin' in the Free World' in his presidential candidacy announcement. Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America."

However, a Trump representative told the publication that the song was being used legally.

Axl Rose

Guns N Roses frontman Axl Rose found out that "Sweet Child O' Mine" was being played at Trump events and put a stop to it.

He tweeted in 2018: "Unfortunately the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues' blanket performance licenses which were not intended for such craven political purposes, without the songwriters' consent."

George Harrison's estate

Members of the late George Harrison's estate were not pleased when The Beatles' classic "Here Comes the Sun" was used at the same 2016 RNC.

They later joked on Twitter: "If it had been Beware of Darkness, then we MAY have approved it! #TrumpYourself."

Luciano Pavarotti's estate

The family of late opera legend Pavarotti was not impressed when his rendition of "Nessun Dorma" was used at Trump campaign events.

His widow, Nicoletta Mantovani Pavarotti, and three daughters spoke to the New York Times, saying: "The values of brotherhood and solidarity which Luciano Pavarotti expressed throughout the course of his artistic career are entirely incompatible with the worldview offered by the candidate Donald Trump."

Twisted Sister's Dee Snider

Dee Snider from the band Twisted Sister once agreed to let Trump use his music, but then had a change of heart.

"It's very upsetting to me, 'cause I strongly don't agree with his extremist positions," he said in an interview with Loudwire.

Elton John

Trump used Elton John's songs "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer" but the Piano man said he didn't want his music used in American political campaigns.

Speaking to The Guardian, he said: "I don't really want my music to be involved in anything to do with an American election campaign. I'm British. I've met Donald Trump, he was very nice to me, it's nothing personal, his political views are his own, mine are very different, I'm not a Republican in a million years."

R.E.M.

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe was not impressed when Trump used the song "It's the End of the World," in 2016 and sent him a cease-and-desist.

The O'Jays

Eddie Levert of The O'Jays objected to Trump using their song "Love Train" at rallies, having already used "For The Love Of Money" on The Apprentice.

Levert told Billboard: "I wish him the best, but I don't think he's the man to run our country. So when he started using 'Love Train,' I called him up and told them, 'Listen, man, I don't believe in what you're doing. I'm not with you. I don't want you to use my voice. I'm not condoning what you're doing."

Adele

Pop superstar Adele is another artist who opposed Trump using her music at his events.

The "Hello" singer said she never gave the then-candidate permission to use her music, telling Vulture: "Don't vote for him," she said of Trump, per Vulture. "I am English, but what happens in America affects me, too. I am 100 percent for Hillary Clinton. I love her, she's amazing."

The Rolling Stones

Vulture reports that the rock and roll legends ordered Trump to "cease all use" of their music.

Brian May and Queen

Queen's seminal hit "We Are The Champions" was being used at Trump events, but guitarist Brian May was not too pleased about it.

He released an unofficial statement in 2016, saying: "permission to use the track was neither sought nor given."

He added: "It has always been against our policy to allow Queen music to be used as a political campaigning tool."

A tweet from the band's Twitter account was posted, reading: "An unauthorised use at the Republican Convention against our wishes - Queen."

Earth, Wind & Fire

The iconic "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire was being used by Trump at events until the band quote tweeted Queen, saying: "Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes — Earth, Wind & Fire."

Free's Paul Rodgers

Paul Rodgers of the band Free was not happy when the Trump campaign used the song "All Right Now" during the 2016 RNC.

He tweeted: "Permission to use 'All Right Now' was never sought for or granted by me. My lawyer is dealing with this matter. - Paul."