Watch CBS News

George Harrison's estate, O'Jays slam Trump for using their music

Trump's grim speech
Trump delivers grim speech to end Republican convention 05:09

Lots of artists are unhappy that Donald Trump used their music at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

The estate of former Beatle George Harrison is complaining about the use of his music at the RNC.

Harrison's family tweeted Friday that the use of the song "Here Comes the Sun" during the introduction of candidate Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka was not authorized and was "offensive and against the wishes of the George Harrison estate."

R&B group The O'Jays are also decrying the use of their song "Love Train" during the RNC -- including a version remixed as "Trump Train" -- without the consent of the band.

Rolling Stones to Trump: Stop using our music 00:39

Founding members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams said in a statement Thursday that they were asked to appear at the convention in Cleveland but rejected the offer and said the candidacy of Republican nominee Donald Trump was "divisive and at odds with the overriding message of their song."

Williams said he didn't appreciate being associated with Trump, while Levert went further and said, "I think he just may be the anti-Christ." He and Levert said they'd be happy to be part of the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

Another musician on the complainant list was rocker Paul Rodgers, who complained about the use of his "All Right Now" at the climax of Trump's speech.

Earlier in the convention, Queen guitarist Brian May complained about the use of the band's 1977 hit "We are the Champions" during a Trump convention appearance.

A newspaper in the Italian town where Luciano Pavarotti lived says the late tenor's loved ones were also unhappy that the Trump campaign played one of his signature arias, "Nessun Dorma." The Gazzetta di Modena on Thursday quoted Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani Pavarotti, and other family members as saying in a statement that the "values of brotherhood and solidarity" that Pavarotti expressed in his career "are incompatible with the world vision proposed" by Trump.

During the U.S. primary season, both the Rolling Stones and Adele complained that the Trump campaign was using their songs without permission.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.