Members of band Survivor have distanced themselves from controversial Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, after the anti-gay marriage official exited jail Tuesday to the tune of their hit song “Eye of the Tiger.”
Davis had served five days for refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The song, which is best known for being featured in the 1982 film “Rocky III,” accompanied her triumphant gestures as she was welcomed by a crowd of supporters on a stage alongside Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Within minutes, “Eye of the Tiger” became a trending topic on social media.
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However, Survivor was unamused by the sudden influx of attention. In a Tuesday statement on their Facebook page, band member Frankie Sullivan said: “NO! We did not grant Kim Davis any rights to use ‘My Tune -The Eye Of The Tiger.’ I would not grant her the rights to use Charmin! C’mom Mike, you are not The Donald but you can do better than that – See Ya really SoooooooonnnnnnN!!!!!!”
The bands’s co-founder, Jim Peterik, also expressed displeasure on Twitter. “I have not authorized the use of Eye of the Tiger for use by Kim Davis and my publisher will issue a C&D. This does not reflect my views,” he tweeted.
And in a separate interview with Billboard, Peterick said, “The song has motivated thousands through the years to reach beyond their limits. Its use for the release of Kim Davis does not support my views or my politics. I have contacted my publishers to make sure this usage is stopped immediately.”
I have not authorized the use of Eye of the Tiger for use by Kim Davis and my publisher will issue a C&D. This does not reflect my views.
— Jim Peterik (@jimpeterik) September 9, 2015This is far from the first time rock musicians have expressed anger and frustration with their music being used to promote conservative political causes without their permission. In this election cycle alone, Donald Trump has run afoul of rock stars not once, but twice. He drew the ire of legendary rocker Neil Young when the real estate mogul co-opted his classic song “Rockin’ in the Free World” for his campaign launch.
The Trump campaign agreed to stop using Young’s song, while the candidate himself insisted: “He loves me! We have a great relationship.”
On Thursday, REM front-man Michael Stipe used colorful language to condemn Trump’s use of his band’s 1987 hit “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) during his appearance at a “Stop the Iran deal” rally on Capitol Hill.
“Go f**k yourselves, the lot of you — you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men,” Stipe wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”
Adam Howard