Johnny Marr has spoken out after a Trump rally seemingly used a Smiths classic.
It’s by now a well-worn argument – when is it appropriate for music to be used at a political rally? The Trump team have made a habit of irking rock legends, such as utilising The Rolling Stones’ classic ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ – in spite of Mick Jagger’s protestations.
It seems the latest song to be co-opted by the Hard Right rallies is something a little different. A clip from Rapid City, South Dakota shows a hall decked out for Trump supporters, while Smiths classic ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’ from ‘Hatful Of Hollow’ rings out.
The juxtaposition is surreal – a song of loneliness and isolation, being utilised for rallies that feel triumphalist, to say the least.
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Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wasn’t impressed, using Twitter / x to show his frustration.
He writes: “Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now.”
Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now. https://t.co/M6eYROedOy
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) January 23, 2024
Smiths icon Morrissey’s politics have been hotly debated over the years. During an interview with Der Spiegel in Germany he was quoted as saying he would “kill” Donald Trump; following this, Morrissey issued a statement insisting he said no such thing.
He wrote: “Would I kill Donald Trump? No, never.”
Aside from this, Johnny Marr has been through a busy spell. Touring across the country in 2023, he closed the year with a pair of orchestral Manchester shows, focussed on the Smiths songbook in front of a huge sold-out audience.
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