On Thursday, white nationalist Richard Spencer was asked at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) if he liked rock music, and to Olivia Nuzzi of New York magazine, Spencer responded by declaring that British electronic rock band Depeche Mode is the “official band of the alt-right.”
The only problem? The feeling is most definitely not mutual.
In a statement released to Gothamist and several other media outlets, a rep for Depeche Mode called Spencer’s comments, and stated that Depeche Mode “has no ties to Richard Spencer or the alt right and does not support the alt right movement.”
Depeche Mode’s popularity with Spencer and the racist white nationalist movement, documented since 2016, is of course at odds with the band’s history. Lead songwriter Martin Gore is himself of mixed race heritage, and one of the band’s signature hits is the anti-racism anthem “People are People.”
More recently, Depeche Mode lead singer Dave Gahan harshly criticized President Trump and compared him to Hitler in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
“The things that he’s saying sound very similar to what someone was saying in 1935,” he said. “That didn’t work out very well! The things that he’s saying are cruel and heartless and promoting fear.”
And three weeks ago, Depeche Mode released “Where’s The Revolution?“,the first single from its upcoming album, “Spirit,” which calls on people to rise up against politicians and political movements similar to Trump. The album is also notable for several songs inspired by the band’s negative reaction to both the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. and Brexit.
Perhaps Depeche Mode can respond to Spencer directly this Wednesday, when they are slated to appear on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” in support of their upcoming album, “Spirit,” set to hit stores March 17.
As for Spencer, his visit to CPAC was short-lived, as event organizers kicked him out and declared that he was not invited to their their event.
“He is not welcome here,” CPAC Communications Director Ian Walters told Talking Points Memo. “His views are repugnant and have absolutely nothing to do with what goes on here.”
Spencer was most recently in the news after being punched in the face during a television interview, video of which went viral on social media.
Anti-Trump Playlist: 11 Songs Against New President (Videos)
Donald Trump is entering the Oval Office with the lowest recorded approval rating of any incoming president. Millions are expected to march nationwide against him the day after he was inaugurated. There's a lot of rage going around, and it's being reflected in our music. Here's a playlist of anti-Trump anthems that have been created since Trump began his road to the White House.
Green Day turned Trump into a monster in the lyric video for their latest single, "Troubled Times." The last Republican president (George W. Bush) inspired Green Day to make "American Idiot." Who knows what they will make during the Trump era?
Anohni collaborated with the experimental sister duo CocoRosie to create "Smoke 'Em Out," a song they hope will serve as a call to the "weary-disappointed hearts of so many crest-fallen citizens." Don't think that Anohni is an Obama fan anymore, though. She also wrote a song about her disillusionment with the President of Hope.
In the days leading up to the inauguration, Fiona Apple promoted the National Women's March with "Tiny Hands," a song that features a chant that Apple wants to be yelled out at The March: "We don't want your tiny hands anywhere near our underpants!"
Though they never mention Trump, A Tribe Called Quest's latest single "We The People ..." clearly calls out the xenophobic rhetoric that became so prevalent in 2016. Sample lyrics: "Muslims and gays/boy we hate your ways."
In a similar vein, English rock band Depeche Mode has released a new single called "Where's The Revolution," which definitely taps into the frustration that has moved millions to protest since Trump took office.
Meanwhile, hackers have taken over radio stations in five states that went to Trump in the election and have forced them to play YG and Nipsey Hu$$le's rap song "F*** Donald Trump" on repeat.
The day before the inauguration, Moby released a new music video for his song "Erupt and Matter." The video includes Trump among images of riots, terrorism and Bashar al-Assad.
OK Go took Morrissey's song "Interesting Drug" and turning it into an anti-Trump song with a video that shows the lowlights of Trump's campaign over the past year. Sample lyric: "There are some bad people on the rise/They're saving their own skins by/Ruining other people's lives"
Trump was such a big deal that Gorillaz ended a six-year hiatus to release a song against him. "Hallelujah Money" features a Trump Tower-like lobby and lyrics that attack greed.
Death Cab For Cutie's "Million Dollar Loan" attacks Trump's boasts about his business track record. The title refers to the loan Trump got from his father to help start his business empire.
But by far the most rage-filled anti-Trump anthem you'll find is Brujeria's "Vive Presidente Trump!" The Spanish lyrics, told from the perspective of bloodletting Mexican drug bandits, hope for a Trump presidency "because he wants war, just like us. If he starts it, we'll finish it." The track ends with the sounds of the grindcore band hacking Trump to pieces with machetes. Yikes.
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There are a lot of musicians who are not happy at all having Donald Trump in the White House
Donald Trump is entering the Oval Office with the lowest recorded approval rating of any incoming president. Millions are expected to march nationwide against him the day after he was inaugurated. There's a lot of rage going around, and it's being reflected in our music. Here's a playlist of anti-Trump anthems that have been created since Trump began his road to the White House.
