A member of the band Journey has served a bandmate with a stop and desist order after he performed their hit Accomplish Stop Believin’ for Donald Trump.
Guitarist Neal Schon told keyboardist Jonathan Cain “has no privilege to use Journey for politics”.
Cain, whose wife Paula White is an adviser to the ex-president, played the group’s anthem at an occasion at Mr. Trump’s estate in Florida last month.
Cain argued that Schon was the one who had been hurtful Journey’s reputation.
The duo is already in a lawful fight over spending on the band credit card.
Don’t Stop Believin’ was first released in 1981 but appreciated a renaissance after living used in TV shows The Sopranos and Glee.
It was written by Cain and Schon in union with singer Steve Perry, who quit the band in 1998.
Last month, it was informed to be the most-streamed song from 1981 in the UK.
Schon said his bandmate’s concert at the America First Policy Institute’s Experience and Gala at Mar-A-Lago was a “dangerous use of the brand”.
The America First Policy Institute is run by former senior Trump White House officials and has been mentioned as a “regime in waiting” should he be re-elected. Paula White-Cain was Mr. Trump’s spiritual adviser during his presidency and chairs the AFPI’s Center for American Values.
Schon’s letter said: “Although Mr. Cain is free to express his personal feelings and associations when he does that on behalf of Journey or for the band, such conduct is strongly deleterious to the Journey brand as it polarizes the band’s fans and outreach. The journey is not, and should not be, political.”
The letter continued: “His politics should be his own private business. He should not be capitalizing on Journey’s brand to boost his personal political or spiritual plan to the detriment of the band.”
In a piece of information, Cain said Schon “should look in the mirror when he blames me for causing hurt to the Journey brand”.
He charged his bandmate of bringing or threatening legal action against multiple people related to the band; of sending “bullying, toxic” emails; and of “recklessly” spending Journey’s money.
“If anyone is ruining the Journey brand, it is Neal – and Neal alone,” Cain concluded.
In November, it was reported that Schon claimed he had been denied access to the group’s American Express card and its records, while Cain charged his bandmate for arranging more than $1m (£827,000) in “inappropriate personal expenses” on the card.
Their current acrimony may create frosty connections when they go back on tour in January with singer Arnel Pineda, who entered the group in 2007.