Neil Young will sue Donald Trump’s November presidential campaign team to prevent them from playing their songs at election rallies, according to a complaint posted on the rocker’s website Tuesday.
74-year-old artist claims copyright infringement for unauthorized use of songs Rockin ‘in the Free World and Devil’s Sidewalk at several Donald Trump gatherings, including his recent meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Neil Young “cannot, in his soul and conscience, allow his music to serve as a support for a campaign of ignorance and hatred, conflictual and anti-American,” indicates the text of the complaint.
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The latter is not dated, but shows that lawyers for the singer and guitarist – who is asking for up to $ 150,000 in damages for each offense – are preparing to file it in a federal court in New York.
Neil Young has repeatedly denounced Donald Trump’s use of his songs during his campaign rallies.
The native of Toronto, Canada, a naturalized American, said in February that the Republican billionaire was “a disgrace” for the United States, when he gave his support to the Socialist White House candidate Bernie Sanders.
Several renowned artists, including Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Aerosmith or Adele, as well as Prince’s heirs, have complained that their titles are played at Donald Trump rallies.
Famous British rock band The Rolling Stones threatened the US president with legal action in June if he continued to use their hit You Can’t Always Get What You Want.