Aussie bands and musicians have clapped back after discovering their music was used at the March for Australia rallies on Sunday without permission.
Australian punk rock band The Living End took to their Instagram Stories on Monday with a stern message after they heard that two of their songs were played during the marches across the country.
“We’ve been made aware that two of our songs were played at the anti-immigration marches over the weekend by members if a neo-Nazi group. To be absolutely clear, the goals and philosophies of these marches are abhorrent to us, and we don’t support them in any way,” the band said in a statement.
“The Living End’s worldview is about equality, and we aim for our songs to be a positive influence. We believe in a fair go for everyone. Our songs are written to bring people together, not to divide them, and especially not to be used in this way.
“In summary: Fuck Nazis,” they concluded.
According to The Courier Mail, attendees of the Brisbane rally were blasting Jimmy Barnes‘ track “Working Class Man” and Cold Chisel’s “Flame Trees”. Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reported that ICEHOUSE’s “Great Southern Land” was also played through the speakers.
While Barnes and ICEHOUSE have not given an official statement, a PR representative for both artists confirmed to music publication The Music that “no approval was sought, and no permission was given, for the use of their works at the rallies”.
It’s not the first time Barnes’ music has been used during anti-immigration protests. Back in 2015, Barnes spoke out on social media after Cold Chisel’s “Khe Sanh” was played during an anti-Islam rally in Brisbane.
“It has come to my attention that certain groups of people have been using my voice, my songs as their anthems at rallies,” he wrote at the time.
“I only want to say the Australia I belong to and love is a tolerant Australia. A place that is open and giving. It is a place that embraces all sorts of different people; in fact, it is made stronger by the diversity of its people. If you look at my family, you can see we are a multicultural family. Australia needs to stand up for love and tolerance in these modern times.
“None of these people represent me, and I do not support them.”
There you have it.
Fingers crossed there won’t be a next time, but if there is, I hope that the ignorant people marching forgo a backing track and are forced to listen to the idiocy of their chants over and over again.
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