The song “Barracuda” is one of the most recognizable in hard rock.
But when it played during President Donald Trump’s military parade Saturday, the band responsible for the rock classic was not pleased.
Nancy Wilson, guitarist and singer for the band Heart, made it clear that the band did not know the 1977 song would be used at the Washington, D.C. parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary on Trump’s 79th birthday.
“Earlier today, during a parade held in support of our nation’s military and organized by President Donald Trump, the song ‘Barracuda’ by Heart was played without permission or authorization from us,“ Wilson said in a post on Instagram late Saturday night.
Wilson, 71, included a photo of herself wearing a hat that said “No Kings But Us,” a reference to the No Kings protests in cities and towns across the country Saturday, which were held in opposition to Trump’s military parade and the Trump administration.
The guitarist heads up Heart with her sister, lead singer Ann Wilson.
”’Barracuda,’ written and performed by Ann and I, is a powerful piece of music that was never intended for political use,“ Nancy Wilson continued.
”As daughters of a U.S. Marine Corps major, we hold a deep and abiding respect for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. On a day meant to honor that service, it’s important that music used in such settings reflects not only the tone of the event but also the wishes of the artists who created it.”
This isn’t the first time that Wilson has objected to “Barracuda” — the first single from the Heart album “Little Queen” — being used for political purposes.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin used the music at the Republican National Convention in 2008, when she was a candidate for vice president running with John McCain.
Both Nancy and Ann Wilson rejected the use of the song and sent a cease-and-desist to the McCain campaign.
Recently, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers celebrated the return of a treasured instrument that was stolen before Heart’s concert at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City.
Police found Nancy Wilson’s Telecaster guitar after a man stole and sold the custom instrument in Atlantic City.
“Barracuda” is “a powerful piece of music that was never intended for political use,” Nancy Wilson says. Daniel Knighton | Getty Images
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Atlantic City Police Department for recovering my guitar—it means so much to have it back in my hands,” Wilson said in an Instagram post this week, posing with the purple sparkle guitar. “Their dedication and quick action are deeply appreciated.”
Wilson noted that another stolen instrument has not been recovered.
“However, we’re still hoping for the safe return of Paul Moak’s vintage mandolin, which remains missing,” she said. “This instrument holds tremendous sentimental and musical value. A reward is still being offered—no questions asked—for its return. We just want to see it come home where it belongs. Thank you!”
Anyone with information about the stolen mandolin can contact Tony Moon, the band’s tour manager, at [email protected].
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at [email protected] and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads.