The Beastie Boys in 1987.
The Beastie Boys have never allowed their music to be used in any advertisement or ad campaign, ever. Like never. And now, for the first time, they’re allowing the Biden campaign to use 1994’s “Sabotage”. Hey, if you’re gonna do it, go big.
The political commercial made its debut during Sunday night’s NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. The ad zeroes in on the negative effects the COIVD-19 pandemic has had on live music venues, centering on the Blind Pig club in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“Sabotage,” has been used in permission for a “Star Trek” trailer and the video game “Destiny 2,” but never for advertising purposes until the Biden ad. Late Beastie Boys member Adam “MCA” Yauch stated in his will that he wants no music from the band to be used in advertising.