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R.E.M. To Trump: Stop Using Our Music, You 'Attention-Grabbing Orange Clown!'

R.E.M. To Trump: Stop Using Our Music, You 'Attention-Grabbing Orange Clown!'

When Donald Trump appeared at a pro-war with Iran rally in Washington D.C. today, he walked on to the R.E.M song “The End Of The World As We Know It,” a very unsubtle message that did a great job of characterizing the hyperbolic doomsday predictions that neo-conservatives have been smearing President Obama’s historic Iran peace deal with.

If you may recall, this is not the first time Trump has used music without permission. He played “Rocking In The Free World” by Neil Young at his announcement speech; Young is a Bernie Sanders supporter and was furious at Trump for his illegal use of the song.

The band R.E.M was similarly not pleased, and issued a “cease and desist” on Twitter: “Personally, I think the Orange Clown will do anything for attention. I hate giving it to him” said founding member Mike Mills. The lead singer of the band, Michael Stipe sent this email to the Daily Beast:

“Go f*ck yourselves, the lot of you—you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men. Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

Watch it here, if you must:

Colin Taylor
Opinion columnist and former editor-in-chief of Occupy Democrats. He graduated from Bennington College with a Bachelor's degree in history and political science. He now focuses on advancing the cause of social justice and equality in America.

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