For the third time since launching his bid to buy the presidency, Donald Trump has been busted in the chops for swiping music without the artists’ approval. You may remember that when he launched his campaign, he took the stage to the strains of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.” And just last month, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe told Trump and his team to “go f*ck yourselves” for using “It’s The End of the World As We Know It.” Well, add Aerosmith to the mix. On Saturday, Aerosmith’s lead singer has issued an ultimatum to Trump–unless Trump stops using Aerosmith’s song, “Dream On,” in his rallies, the GOP frontrunner will face a lawsuit.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Dream On” was one of many songs that blared at Trump’s campaign announcement rally. He’s been playing it at rallies throughout the summer. That didn’t sit well with Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler, who asked Trump to stop swiping the song after his now-infamous August 21 rally in Mobile, Alabama. That request went unheeded.
Well, it looks like Tyler has opted to use the stick rather than the carrot. His lawyer, Dina LaPolt, sent a strongly-worded letter letting it be known that Trump does not have permission to use “Dream On” or any other Aerosmith song because it “gives the false impression” that Aerosmith has endorsed Trump. It also suggests that Trump’s use of “Dream On” could potentially amount to tortious interference or an invasion of privacy. Unless the Trump campaign either stops using the song or produces a performance license giving him permission to use it, Tyler will “pursue any and all legal or equitable remedies” against Trump.
Now here’s an interesting twist–it looks like Trump may have alienated a potential friend. Tyler is a registered Republican; he even attended the second Republican presidential debate as Trump’s guest. Trump is a longtime Aerosmith fan; he once tweeted about his experience at a 2014 Aerosmith concert. He and Tyler have even reportedly taken a trip to Russia together. Apparently Trump thought that friendship amounted to permission to use Tyler’s music. If that’s the case, Tyler has let it be known loud and clear that Trump had no such permission.
Trump apparently gave his answer on Monday morning. He spoke at No Labels’ “Problem Solver Convention” in Manchester, New Hampshire–and took the stage with “Dream On” blaring in the background. He says that the dispute has been “all worked out,” but you’ll have to pardon me if I take that with a generous helping of salt.
Add this to the already ample evidence that Trump is manifestly unfit for the presidency. Remember, folks, this is the third time he’s been caught swiping music without permission. But we’re also talking about a guy who finds it acceptable to plaster private cell phone numbers online. We’re also talking about a guy who finds it acceptable to engage in ugly attacks against Latinos and women.
I look at Trump, and I find myself rolling my eyes at how the right-wing fringe has slammed Democrats as out-of-touch elitists since at least the Bill Clinton years. After all, a good chunk of that element appears to be rallying around a guy who is the very stereotype of the entitled one-percenter–a guy who seems to think rules and laws are just things in his way. And they think we liberals are elitists? Please.
