DAILY MAIL
9 June 2016 by Hugo Gye for MailOnline
– Presidential candidate uses Queen hit to introduce some campaign events
– Brian May posted open letter saying Trump does not have permission to use the song and asking him to stop
– Several top musicians have objected to the Republican playing their songs
– May is known as a political activist especially over the environment
Queen guitarist Brian May has slammed Donald Trump for using the song We Are the Champions as his entrance music at rallies for his presidential campaign. The tycoon, who recently clinched the Republication nomination, has played the 1977 hit at campaign events in an apparent attempt to bolster his reputation as a ‘winner’. But now Dr May has blasted the politician for using the song without permission from him or his Queen bandmates, and vowed to stop him from doing it again.
Dispute: Brian May has hit out at Donald Trump, for using his song at campaign rallies
Mr Trump uses a number of popular songs at his campaign rallies, to pump up the crowd and set the scene for his own bombastic performances.
When a number of Queen fans noticed that he had been playing We Are the Champions, they contacted Dr May and asked if Mr Trump had permission to adopt the song. One fan from the US wrote: ‘I cannot see any correlation between the music Queen produced supporting a man who has turned our country upside down.’ Another, added: ‘We sincerely hope you and the Queen organsation request that he IMMEDIATELY cease and desist this use of your music! Awful to see such beautiful sounds being used to promote such ugly, hateful ideas.’
Dr May appeared to agree, writing an open letter in which he called on Mr Trump to stop using the song – although he diplomatically refused to express a view on the presidential challenger’s policies.
Bombastic: The Republican presidential candidate uses the hit to bolster his image as a ‘winner’
‘This is not an official Queen statement, but I can confirm that permission to use the track was neither sought nor given,’ he posted on his official website. ‘We are taking advice on what steps we can take to ensure this use does not continue. Regardless of our views on Mr Trump’s platform, it has always been against our policy to allow Queen music to be used as a political campaigning tool. Our music embodies our own dreams and beliefs, but it is for all who care to listen and enjoy.’
Queen have no legal power to stop politicians playing their songs in public, but Mr Trump may be reluctant to continue using music by stars who have publicly opposed him.
Other musicians including Neil Young and REM frontman Michael Stipe have also spoken out against the controversial candidate’s use of their songs.
Despite his claimed neutrality, Dr May has previously allowed an anti-Trump campaign group to use a Queen song for an online video. In 2012, he spoke in favour of campaigners who opposed Mr Trump’s golf course in north-east Scotland, and said he was happy for them to publish a parody of Bohemian Rhapsody mocking the property developer.
The guitarist, who is also an astrophysicist, has become an outspoken political activist in the UK over recent years. Despite being a longstanding Conservative supporter, he turned on David Cameron’s party over its plan to cull badgers across the country. He has also been campaigning against the giant ‘iceberg basements’ which have been increasingly popular in his home neighbourhood of Kensington, West London but which he says are making residents’ lives a misery.