'Not OK': Neil Young denounces the use of his songs at Trump's Mount Rushmore event
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Darcy Schild
Jul 4, 2020, 22:29 IST
Neil Young is the latest musician to complain about Trump's use of his songs.Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images; SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Canadian-born singer-songwriter Neil Young wrote that he was "not OK" with his music being played at President Donald Trump's Independence Day event on Friday at Mount Rushmore.
"Rockin' in the Free World" and "Like a Hurricane" were at least two of Young's songs that were played at the Independence Day event, according to videos shared by the musician's Twitter account.
"I stand in solidarity with the Lakota Sioux & this is NOT ok with me," Young tweeted on Friday.
In June, The Rolling Stones and the estate of Tom Petty, respectively, threatened to sue Trump after their music was played at the president's rallies.
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Canadian-born singer-songwriter Neil Young complained after at least two of his songs were played at President Donald Trump's Independence Day event on Friday at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
The official Twitter account of Young shared videos of songs "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Like a Hurricane" being played at the venue.
Young first issued a complaint to Trump in 2015 after "Rockin' in the Free World" was played during an official campaign announcement.
"Donald Trump was not authorized to use 'Rockin' in the Free World' in his presidential candidacy announcement. Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America," said a statement from Young's representatives at the time.
"The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement," the statement read, per Rolling Stone. "If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed."
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