Foo Fighters & Other Artists Who Didn’t Let Trump Use Their Songs At Rallies

The rock band Foo Fighters are fighting back at Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign after they got wind that their 1997 song My Hero was used at the rally without their permission.

A rep for the band says if they were asked, “they would not have granted it.” The song blared through the speakers in the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona on Friday night, reaching thousands of cheering people. People on X, formerly Twitter, were in shock at the thought of beloved band allowing the ex-President to use their hit record.

“Bets on Foo Fighters actually giving permission for use of this?,” one wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Another added, “‘My Hero’ is about regular every day people and how they impact others!! I hate when it gets used like this!!” Meanwhile, another commented on X, “Dave Grohl can be as mad as he wants, but this moment gave me goosebumps. RFK is incredibly courageous.”

Eventually, the band replied to an X user who asked if they had granted permission to use the song, saying very simply, “No.”

Foo Fighters, which includes their frontman, Nirvana alum Dave Grohl, are using their frustration with the situation by donating any royalties from playing that song to the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign. However, according to The Independent, they’ve seen proof that shows the song was approved for their use from BMI’s Songview service. Trump’s campaign says, “We have a license to play the song.”

The rally was the second held in Arizona for Donald Trump’s campaign and brought out his supporters in droves, despite the high heat. Donald Trump’s “special guest” at the rally turned out to be Robert R. Kennedy Jr., who threw his support behind Donald Trump after bowing out of the race himself earlier that day.

Donald Trump introduced Kennedy to the crowd, saying, “Tonight I am very pleased to welcome a man who has been an incredible champion for so many of these values that we all share, and we’ve shared them for a long time.” He continues, joking to the crowd, “I don’t think too many of you people have heard of him, he’s very low key, he’s a very low key person, but he’s highly respected but he’s a great person. I’ve known him for so long, for the past 16 months, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” The crowd cheers as ‘My Hero’ hits the speakers in the arena, and Kennedy takes the stage with pyrotechnics behind him, waving to the crowd, then shaking Trump’s hand.

Band Leader Dave Grohl is hardly the first to complain about Trump’s musical selection. There seems to be a growing list of artists who refused to look the other way when Trump would pump their big hits to his crowds without permission.

Just recently, on her Instagram, Celine Dion scoffs at the idea of the use of her calling card, ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ saying, “In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use…And really, THAT song?”

Beyonce stood her ground after Trump used her song ‘Freedom’ on his X account, even though that same song was already being used for the Kamala Harris campaign. Trump was seen exiting a plane, as the song played, sending in Beyonce’s legal team to write up a cease-and-desist, according to Rolling Stone.

Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith told Trump to stop the use of their songs in 2018. Tyler on social media, “This is not about Dems vs. Repub. I do not let anyone use my songs without my permission. My music is for causes not for political campaigns or rallies. Protecting copyright and songwriters is what I’ve been fighting for even before this current administration took office.”

One of the biggest hits of the 90s was used at Trump’s campaign rallies, prompting Sinead O’Connor to ask him to stop. Nothing Compares 2 U was pulled from his campaign after her estate came out with a very strongly worded statement, “It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies. It is no exaggeration to say that Sinead would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a “biblical devil.”

The son of three-time Grammy Award winner Issac Hayes threatened legal course should Trump continue the use of Hayes’ hit Hold On, I’m Comin just this month. Also, The Smiths Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want was used at a South Dakota rally before the guitarist of the band, Johnny Marr, took to social media to express his dislike of the use of that song.

Notably, Ozzy Osbourne was angered over the use of the 1980 song ‘Crazy Train.’ Rihanna issued a cease-and-desist after Trump used her 2007 hit ‘Don’t Stop The Music.’

Even from beyond, artists estates are refusing the usage of their songs. Prince and Tom Petty also have requested the end of popular songs in relation to Trump’s campaign. Other artists from many genres like classic rock include John Fogerty, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen to alternative rock performers R.E.M., and further still to singer and producer Pharrell and finally alternative artist Panic! at the Disco.

There are a few artists who don’t mind showing up on Trump’s playlist though. Kid Rock even performed on stage during the final night of the Republican National Convention, thus throwing his support behind Trump. And Lee Greenwood‘s ‘God Bless The U.S.A.’ was used during the campaign, although Trump wasn’t the first presidential nod to the now 40-year-old song. During the Ronald Regan and George H.W. Bush campaigns, the heartfelt song brought the crowds to their feet.