Just a day after members of Survivor blasted Mike Huckabee for using “Eye of the Tiger,” R.E.M. has come out swinging against Donald Trump after “It’s The End Of The World (As We Know It)” was used at a Trump rally.
Trump spoke at a tea party rally that called for President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran to be stopped on Wednesday and used the 1987 hit single as he took the stage. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is also running for president, also spoke at the rally.
Mike Mills, one of the group’s founding members, was asked on Twitter about this and he had three words: “Cease and desist.”
“Personally, I think the Orange Clown will do anything for attention. I hate giving it to him,” Mills wrote.
Singer Michael Stipe was more blunt in a statement to The Daily Beast.
“Go f**k yourselves, the lot of you—you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men,” Stipe said. “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”
R.E.M. posted a formal statement on Facebook, which sounds a bit more diplomatic but gets the same message across.
"While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates...
Posted by R.E.M. on Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Earlier this week, the surviving members of Survivor also complained about Huckabee using “Eye of the Tiger” at a rally celebrating Kentucky clerk Kim Davis’ release from jail. Davis had refused to grant same-sex couples marriage licenses.
image of Michael Stipe courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com