'Eye of the Tiger' co-writer angrily demands that Nikki Haley 'stop using my song'

16 February 2023

It happens time and time again: Republicans use famous rock songs in their campaigns, and the musicians who wrote or recorded them demand that they stop. The latest example involves 1980s rockers Survivor and Republican Nikki Haley, who is seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Haley, an ex-South Carolina governor who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under former President Donald Trump, played Survivor’s 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger" (from the movie "Rocky 3") at a campaign launch event. And Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan, who co-wrote the song, is angrily demanding that she quit using it.

Sullivan, now 68, told Billboard, "Stop using my f*****g song…. That song belongs with the 'Rocky' franchise, and they don't ask because they’d get a no. Absolutely…. I don't care who it is, I don't think it's appropriate, especially with 'Tiger,' since it’s such a special song."

This isn't the first time Sullivan has objected to a Republican using 'Eye of the Tiger' without Survivor's permission. In 2012, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) used the song in his presidential campaign, and Sullivan filed a lawsuit against him. Then, after former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee used 'Eye of the Tiger' during a 2016 presidential run, he ended up paying $25,000.

Trump, according to Billboard's Gil Kaufman, has used many artists' songs without their permission, including Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, REM and the Rolling Stones. Kaufman notes that "the estates of Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty and Prince have vociferously objected to Trump playing their music at his rallies."

Haley is the second candidate to officially enter the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Trump declared his candidacy after the 2022 midterms, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to be gearing up for a presidential running but so far, hasn't made any type of official announcement. Other Republicans who are being mentioned as possible presidential candidates for next year include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri).

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