Andrew Lloyd Webber. (Mike Coppola/Getty)
As much as the moon has lost its memory, Andrew Lloyd Webber certainly hasn’t after he sent the Donald Trump campaign team a cease-and-desist letter after the US president used “Memory” from Cats at a rally all the way back in 2017.
The year 2020 really knows how to keep us on our toes, huh?
The British composer’s representatives confirmed to Page Six that his theatre company, Really Useful Group, sent the letter to Trump, following multiple requests from singer Betty Buckley, who played Grizabella in the original Broadway production.
Cats veteran called on Andrew Lloyd Webber for years to block Trump.
Trump’s campaign team will be barred from using the song at rallies ahead of the Republican National Convention in August.
Cats veteran Buckley urged Webber to take legal action in November, 2017, as she tweeted: “Thanks, everyone, for telling me about ‘Memory’ being played at 45 rally.
Thanks, everyone, for telling me about “Memory” being played at 45 rally. Not with my permission certainly. Please all, write @OfficialALW!
— Betty Buckley (@BettyBuckley) August 23, 2017
“Not with my permission certainly.”
As the saga continued, when Tom Petty’s family barred Trump’s team from using the musician’s song, Buckley commented: “You should do the same, Andrew Lloyd Webber! Seriously!”
You should do the same @OfficialALW! Seriously!! #Dotherighthing https://t.co/VhZCoCenJz
— Betty Buckley (@BettyBuckley) June 21, 2020
When news of the cease-and-desist letter being reportedly mailed broke Monday (13 July), Buckley tweeted: “Excellent news!
Excellent news!! Thanks to you guys!! Hippetyhaw!! : )Andrew Lloyd Webber Sends Cease-and-Desist to Trump Campaign For Using ‘Memory’ at Rallies https://t.co/OXYslqTPcM
— Betty Buckley (@BettyBuckley) July 13, 2020
“Thanks to you guys! Hippetyhaw!”
Musical star joins the Village People in stopping president’s team playing their music.
“Memory” now joins the growling roster of songs Trump’s re-election team will be unable to blast at rallies.
In June, 2020, the Village People’s lead singer Victor Willis told the president to stop playing the band’s music at rallies.
This is a marked change of tune from the band, who in February 2020 said they were “absolutely fine” with Trump playing gay anthem “Macho Man” at his rallies.
Willis, who co-wrote “Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.”, told Trump to stop playing Village People songs at his rallies if he follows through with his threat to set the military on Black Lives Matter protestors.
“If Trump orders the US military to fire on his own citizens (on US soil), Americans will rise up in such numbers outside of the White House that he might be forced out of office prior to the election. Don’t do it Mr President!” Willis said.
“And I ask that you no longer use any of my music at your rallies especially ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘Macho Man’.
“Sorry, but I can’t support what you’re proposing.”