The family members of the late rock legend have sent a cease and desist letter to President Trump after the classic song 'I Won't Back Down' was used in a campaign rally in Tulsa.
- June 22, 2020
AceShowbiz - Tom Petty's family members have released a joint statement denouncing U.S. leader Donald Trump's use of the rock legend's hit "I Won't Back Down" at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, June 20, 2020.
According to the late star's family, Tom, who died in 2017, "wrote this song for the underdog, for the common man and for everyone," adding, "We want to make it clear that we believe everyone is free to vote as they like, think as they like, but the Petty family doesn't stand for this."
Condemning President Trump, they continued, "We believe in America and we believe in democracy. But Donald Trump is not representing the noble ideals of either."
"We would hate for fans that are marginalised by this administration to think we were complicit in this usage. Concurrently, we have issued a cease and desist notice to the Trump campaign."
The incident is the latest in a string of similar attacks on Trump by artists for using their work at rallies, with R.E.M., Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Neil Young, Guns N' Roses, and The Rolling Stones just some of the other acts who have also objected to their music's use at Trump's events.
