Tim Booth, lead singer of the British rock band James, said he was “disgusted” after hard‑right activist Tommy Robinson reposted a video that used the band’s 1989 single "Sit Down" to accompany footage of a large rally in central London.
Robinson, whose given name is Stephen Yaxley‑Lennon, shared the montage on X with a caption reading: "Britain is awake, we are no longer afraid, you will not take our right to free speech @Keir_Starmer WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK." The clip, credited to the page ENGLISH EDITS, included aerial shots intended to show the size of the gathering.
Booth posted on X shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday while the demonstration was still under way around Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, saying the use of the song had not been authorised and that the group would be "looking into our options." "The song and most of our topical lyrics make it very clear where we stand, and it's the antithesis of this organisation," he wrote.
The event, billed as "Unite the Kingdom," drew estimates of between 110,000 and 150,000 people and resulted in at least 25 arrests and injuries to 26 police officers, authorities said. A stage on Whitehall hosted speeches from a number of right‑leaning personalities and politicians; Tesla and X owner Elon Musk appeared via video link. Organisers overran a 6 p.m. cut‑off time imposed by police under the Public Order Act, and the demonstration encountered a counter‑protest organised by Stand Up To Racism, which had been scheduled to finish earlier in the day. Police lines separated the two groups at times.
Booth’s statement follows a pattern of musicians objecting to unauthorised use of their work at political events. Lawyers and industry bodies say permission is typically required to synchronise recorded music with visual content, and the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) noted that unauthorised use can be challenged first with a cease‑and‑desist request and, if necessary, followed by a copyright infringement lawsuit seeking damages or an injunction.
Other prominent artists have publicly contested political uses of their music in recent years. Adele said in 2016 she had not given permission for Donald Trump to use her music at rallies. The Rolling Stones threatened legal action against the Trump campaign in 2020 over the use of their songs. Queen sought to block use of tracks such as "We Are the Champions," and Florence Welch and DJ Calvin Harris have also complained about unauthorised political placements.
James formed in Manchester in the 1980s and achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with singles including "Come Home," "Sit Down," "She's a Star" and "Laid." Booth, 65, left the band in 2001 before the members reunited in 2007; the band has released seven albums since reuniting. Booth has previously clashed publicly with other musicians over political sympathies; in 2018 he criticised Morrissey after the former Smiths frontman expressed sympathy for Robinson.
Representatives for Robinson and the page credited with producing the video did not immediately respond to requests for comment. James said it was exploring legal options but did not specify any immediate steps.
The incident underlines continuing tensions over how political figures and movements use popular music to frame events and mobilise supporters, and it highlights the legal and public relations challenges artists face when works are placed in political contexts without explicit authorisation.