Johnny Marr Doesn't Want Donald Trump Playing Smiths Music at His Rallies: 'Consider This S— Shut Right Down'

Marr is the latest musician to speak out against the former president's use of music without permission

Johnny Marr; Former U.S. President Donald Trump
Johnny Marr; Donald Trump. Photo:

Dave J Hogan/Getty; James Devaney/GC Images

Johnny Marr does not want his music associated with Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, the Smiths guitarist shared his thoughts on Trump, 77, playing the band's hit song "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" during his rallies.

In response to a video from Trump's rally in South Dakota in September, where the song played in the background, Marr, 60, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Ahh…right…OK."

"I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass," he continued. "Consider this s--- shut right down right now."

Marr cowrote the song with frontman Morrissey and it originally appeared as the b-side of the 1984 single "William, It Was Really Nothing." The Smiths disbanded in 1987, just before the release of their fourth album.

Marr is the latest musician to take issue with Trump using the band's music at his rallies. The Rolling Stones, Pharrell Williams, Linkin Park, Village People and Tom Petty's estate have issued cease and desists to Trump.

In June 2019, Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne and wife Sharon Osbourne made it clear that they did not grant Trump permission to use "Crazy Train."

In a joint statement posted on Sharon’s Instagram, the couple wrote, “Based on this morning’s unauthorized use of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Crazy Train,’ we are sending notice to the Trump campaign (or any other campaigns) that they are forbidden from using any of Ozzy Osbourne’s music in political ads or in any political campaigns.”

“Ozzy’s music cannot be used for any means without approvals,” they reiterated.

 Photo of The SMITHS, from left, Andy Rourke, Morrissey, Mike Joyce (drums), Johnny Marr (playing Gibson ES-335 guitar), performing live on The Tube
The Smiths.

Pete Cronin/Redferns

In 2015, Trump notably clashed with R.E.M. for using their song “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” and Neil Young for his song “Rockin’ In the Free World.”

The following year, Aerosmith‘s frontman Steven Tyler slammed Trump for using their song “Dream On” at his rallies.

Months later, Williams demanded that his music never be played at rallies after Trump played Williams’ upbeat hit “Happy” at a rally the Saturday following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that killed 11 people and injured six others.

One month later in November 2018, Rihanna discovered that the president had been playing her songs during his political rallies and also made her displeasure known.

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