Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler is the latest rock star to tell GOP front-runner Donald Trump to stop using his band’s song.
Tyler officially demanded that Trump stop playing Aerosmith’s rock ballad “Dream On” on the campaign trail. Tyler’s lawyers sent a letter to Trump on Saturday saying the use of the song “gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid,” according to the Associated Press. Tyler previously asked Trump to not use the song in August after it was played at a rally in Alabama, but the Trump campaign did not comply.
The letter warns that if the presidential hopeful does not comply this time, Tyler “will be forced to pursue any and all legal or equitable remedies.” The Trump campaign has 24 hours to take the song off the campaign playlist or provide proof that it has permission to use the song.
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One of Tyler’s attorneys, Dina LaPolt, said in a statement that the request is strictly about the unauthorized use of Aerosmith’s work.
“This is not a political nor personal issue with Mr. Trump,” LaPolt said. “Steven works tirelessly with both Republicans and Democrats regarding copyright reform and his position has always been consistent regarding copyright and intellectual property,”
She added that Tyler is a registered Republican. Tyler and his bandmate Joe Perry even attended the first GOP presidential debate in August.
Tyler’s letter is the third time a rock musician has sent a “cease and desist” message to Trump. After the real estate mogul used Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” during the kickoff to his presidential campaign, Young said Trump was not authorized to use the song.
Trump also received pushback from R.E.M. members Mike Mills and Michael Stipe when Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz used the song “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” at a “Stop the Iran Deal” rally in September. Mills tweeted, “Cease and desist” when asked for a comment about the use of the song.
Republicans have a long history of using unauthorized songs during their campaigns. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former president Ronald Reagan have all received criticism for using music without permission.
Nicole Brown