and Neil Young have all asked the billionaire right-wing populist to stop playing their music at campaign rallies.

The row with Queen is only the latest between Trump and musicians.Īdele, the Rolling Stones, R.E.M. Mercury, born in what is now Tanzania to an Indian family which was forced to flee to England when he was a teenager, has become a gay icon but was largely quiet about his sexuality in public. “If your political party spends decades treating gay people as second-class citizens, guess what: You don’t get to use Freddie Mercury’s music at your convention,” Lambert, who is also gay, wrote on Twitter. “Our music embodies our own dreams and beliefs, but it is for all who care to listen and enjoy,” May wrote on his website at the time.Īdam Lambert, the US singer who has been performing with Queen on tour, was more outspoken and noted that We Are the Champions was written by Queen’s Freddie Mercury, one of the most prominent musicians to die from complications of AIDS. May said that, whatever the band’s views on Trump, it did not allow politicians to play Queen songs including We Are the Champions, one of the most recognisable rock tracks which is frequently played at sporting events. Guitarist Brian May said in June that Trump had not asked before previously playing the song and that the band would “never give permission.” The song was a worldwide success, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart.

One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognizable anthems. Trump – who took the stage to We Are the Champions through a cloud of dry ice on the Cleveland convention’s first day on Monday – went ahead with the song despite public pleas from the band not to. ' We are the Champions ' is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury and recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album, News of the World.

We are the champions video