Donald Trump virtually clinched the Republican nomination last night (May 3) by winning the Indiana primary, and he walked out for his victory speech to the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up.” The Stones aren’t too thrilled with Trump’s use their 1981 hit; in fact, they’ve asked them to stop using their music entirely.
“The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs,” a rep for the band tells Billboard. “[The Rolling Stones] have requested that they cease all use immediately.”
Previously, Stones songs like “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Brown Sugar” have been played at Trump events.
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Following Trump’s victory, Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the race, leaving Trump as the overwhelming favorite to win the 2016 GOP Presidential nomination.
So far, artists like Adele and R.E.M. have gotten heated over Trump using their music to rally their supporters. Expect that number to increase in the coming months.
For more, consult Billboard’s story on the legalities of music in political campaigns.
Additional reporting by Jem Aswad
