The legendary frontman of British rock band The Libertines, Pete Doherty, has been left horrified and disgusted after discovering one of the band's most iconic tracks was used to promote a far-right political party in Germany.
The controversial advert for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party featured The Libertines' 2004 hit 'Can't Stand Me Now' without the band's knowledge or consent. The video, which has since been widely circulated on social media, shows various party politicians while the distinctive guitar riff plays in the background.
A Betrayal of Artistic Values
Doherty's representative released a scathing statement, making the artist's position unequivocally clear: "Pete Doherty is disgusted that a song he poured his heart and soul into has been hijacked to promote a political agenda he finds abhorrent. The values of the AfD are the absolute antithesis of everything The Libertines' music represents."
The statement further emphasised that no permission was sought or granted for the use of the track, and that appropriate action is being pursued to have the video removed from all platforms.
Legal Recourse and Industry Outrage
The incident has sparked fury within the music industry, raising serious questions about the unauthorised use of copyrighted material for political gain. Legal experts suggest The Libertines and their record label have strong grounds for a copyright infringement claim.
This is not an isolated incident, with numerous artists across the globe finding their work co-opted by political movements without approval. The brazen use of 'Can't Stand Me Now', a song about a fractured relationship, has been labelled as particularly ironic given the track's lyrical content.
The band's management and publishers are now taking swift action to address this misuse of their intellectual property, serving as a stark warning to other political groups considering similar tactics.
