Franz Ferdinand have blasted the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after their hit Take Me Out was used without permission in a newly released military video promoting recent strikes in Iran.
The clip features the 2004 track playing over footage of fighter jets, explosions and an Israeli soldier praising the operation, which the IDF captioned: “Operation Roaring Lion – this is how it’s done.”
The group’s frontman Alex Kapranos reacted swiftly and angrily after seeing the video, sharing his response on Instagram Stories.
He wrote: “These warmongering murderers are using our music without our consent. This makes us both nauseous and furious.
“Kind of typical though, isn’t it? To strut up and take what isn’t theirs with a vile arrogance…”
Franz Ferdinand’s condemnation adds them to a growing list of artists objecting to their work being used in political or military contexts without approval.
For example, Radiohead were recently left infuriated after a cover of their song Let Down was used by ICE.
The Paranoid Android hitmakers issued a blunt statement condemning the US Department of Homeland Security after a choral version of the song, which appears on their 1997 classic album OK Computer, could be heard in the background of a social media video posted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) channel which showed people it suggested had been harmed by immigrants.
The video ended with the phrase “This Is Our Why” and was posted with the caption: “Thousands of American families have been torn apart because of criminal illegal alien violence. American citizens raped and murdered by those who have no right to be in our country. This is who we fight for. This is our why.”
In response, Radiohead “demanded” the video be taken down as they condemned the use of the song.
They said in a statement: “We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain’t funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight.
“Also, go f*** yourselves…”
The blunt statement came just days after Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood shared his unhappiness that a segment of his Phantom Thread score had been used in Melania, Brett Ratner’s new documentary about America’s First Lady Melania Trump.
