The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club issued a blistering condemnation of the Kristi Noem-led Department of Homeland Security, alleging the unauthorized use of its recording of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” in a government-produced video.
The rock band told the DHS to “go f... yourselves.”
The track, a folk-gospel song popularized by Johnny Cash, was featured in what the San Francisco rock band slammed as a “propaganda video.”
In a scathing public statement directed at the DHS, the band wrote on social media:
“It has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security is improperly using our recording of ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’ in your latest propaganda video. It’s obvious that you don’t respect Copyright Law and Artist Rights any more than you respect Habeas Corpus and Due Process rights, not to mention the separation of Church and State per the U.S. Constitution.”
The group continued:
“For the record, we hereby order @DHSgov to cease and desist the use of our recording and demand that you immediately pull down your video.”
And it witheringly concluded:
“Oh, and go f... yourselves.”
The band joins a growing list of musicians who have pushed back against the unauthorized use of their music, especially by Donald Trump and his White House, ranging from Adele to The Rolling Stones.