Tom Petty’s Family Tells Presidential Campaign to Cease and Desist
Saying the singer-songwriter “would never want his song used for a campaign of hate”, the family of the late Tom Petty have sent a cease-and-desist letter to Donald Trump’s campaign, asking that Petty’s music no longer be used.
Angry that the President played Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” at his campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Saturday night, Petty’s family wrote “Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind” adding “Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind.”
The Petty family concluded in the letter that “Tom wrote ‘I Won’t Back Down’ for the underdog, for the common man and for everyone. We believe in America and democracy but Donald Trump is not representing the noble ideas of either.”
Tom Petty also sent a cease and desist for the same song back in 2000 during George W. Bush’s campaign after his song was used at a rally.
This isn’t the first time that classic rock songs have been used in campaigns…. or asked not be used… Check out Ten Presidential Classic Rock Songs here.
Here’s the full statement from Tom Petty’s family.
— Tom Petty (@tompetty) June 21, 2020
