Donald Trump’s Pals Aerosmith Warn Him To Stop Using “Dream On”
Yet another musician has joined the growing chorus of artists telling Donald Trump to please stop using their music for his presidential campaign, and this one probably cuts deeper than most. In addition to being a racist, Donald Trump is a huge Aerosmith fan, and he and Steven Tyler even seem to be personal friends — Tyler was a judge for Trump’s Miss USA pageant in 2013, and he reportedly attended the Republican presidential debate in August as a personal guest of Trump’s. In his recent cover story interview, Trump told Rolling Stone that “Aerosmith is terrific. Steven Tyler, that whole group is just a terrific group. They actually came and watched the debate recently, and I know they were rooting for me, they’re fans of mine, but I’m even bigger fans of theirs. So I think Aerosmith is great.”
I attended @Aerosmith concert last night in Newark, NJ. Doesn’t get any better than that. @IamStevenT was fantastic, great energy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2014
But Aerosmith might not be the big fans of his that Trump seems to think they are. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Trump first played their song “Dream On” at his presidential campaign announcement, and he was warned to stop using it after an 8/21 event in Mobile, Alabama. Now, following his use of the song at a rally in Georgia yesterday, representatives for Steven Tyler have reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to his campaign. “Trump for President does not have our client’s permission to use ‘Dream On’ or any of our client’s other music in connection with the Campaign because it gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid,” the letter states. “We are unaware of any public performance license granting Trump for President the right to perform ‘Dream On’ in connection with the Campaign. If Trump for President has any such license, please forward it to our attention immediately.”
Et tu, Aerosmith?
UPDATE: According to CNN, as of Monday 10/12 Trump is still playing Aerosmith despite the cease-and-desist.
UPDATE 10/14: Trump tweeted that his campaign will stop using “Dream On” at Tyler’s request even though he has the legal right to keep using it. He also hit Tyler with a sick burn.
Even though I have the legal right to use Steven Tyler’s song, he asked me not to. Have better one to take its place!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2015
Steven Tyler got more publicity on his song request than he’s gotten in ten years. Good for him!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2015