In “times like these,” the Foo Fighters strike back on their own terms.
On Monday, Aug. 26, a spokesperson for the rock group confirmed to PEOPLE that they will donate their “My Hero” royalties to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign after former President Donald Trump used the song at a rally without their permission.
“The Foo Fighters did not ask for permission, and if they had, they would not have given it,” a rep for the band told PEOPLE in a statement.
They added that the band “Fly” — made up of Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Josh Freese, Chris Shiflett, Nate Mandel and Rami Jafree — will donate all royalties from the Trump campaign’s use of the song to the Harris and Gov. Tim Walz campaigns.
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters performs in New Orleans in April 2024.
Astrid Valigorsky/Getty
Beyoncé threatens to quit after Trump campaign uses her song ‘Freedom’ on social media: report
Just the day before, Trump played the Foo Fighters’ hit song when he greeted former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on stage during a rally in Arizona — just an hour after he halted his campaign and endorsed Trump.
On Friday, August 23, the band even addressed Trump’s use of the word “My Hero” at a rally on Xu (formerly Twitter), sharing an interaction with a user who asked, “Hey @foofighters, did you let Trump use ‘My Hero ‘ to welcome RFK Jr. to the stage,” to which the band replied, “No.”
“Let’s be clear,” they captioned the post.
The Foo Fighters are not the only musicians who have refused to use their music for the Trump campaign.
On Tuesday, August 20, Steven Cheung, spokesman for Donald Trump, he shared the video on his X account of the former president exiting a plane on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to “Freedom,” from Beyoncé’s 2016 album. Lemonade.
“Touchdown in Michigan!! @realDonaldTrump“, read the title.
The song, which Harris used on several campaigns, immediately attracted attention on the Internet.
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Beyoncé, Donald Trump.
Kevin Mazur/Getty; Grant Baldwin/Getty
Many, many musicians who have told politicians to stop using their songs
On Wednesday 21.8. Rolling Stone reported that the Trump campaign did not have permission to use the song and that the “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” singer, 42, threatened to send the Republican presidential candidate’s team a cease and desist.
At the time, PEOPLE reached out to Beyoncé’s rep for comment.
Although the “Halo” singer has yet to officially endorse Harris, she has previously endorsed the Democratic Party, including in 2013, when she sang the national anthem at former President Barack Obama’s inauguration. She also shared a clip on social media urging voters to support incumbent Joe Biden in 2020.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education