Heaven 17 Plans New Version of ‘Fascist Groove Thang’ Calling Out Trump Instead of Reagan: ‘It’s Not Going to Get Any Less Relevant, Is It?

In a surprise finale to their September residency at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy was joined on stage by vocalist Nancy Whang and the iconic Britpop band Pulp. Together, they delivered the first-ever live performance of Heaven 17's 1981 synth-pop classic, "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang." Murphy described the track as profoundly "fitting for the times," a sentiment underscored by the band's earlier lyrical update on their 2019 live album, 'Electric Lady Sessions,' where the original reference to "Reagan's president elect" was replaced with the pointed phrase, "The orange one is president."

The song has experienced a dramatic revival, transforming into a modern anthem of resistance. Martyn Ware, a founding member of Heaven 17 who also co-founded the influential electronic outfit The Human League, noted that the track's resurgence began in earnest with Donald Trump's presidency. "We started seeing it online at various American protests, with people holding up placards with the song's title," Ware observed. "It's morphed into a kind of underground hymn for the movement." Its driving rhythm recently provided the soundtrack for the "No Kings" protest in Downtown Los Angeles and energized a sign-making workshop in Echo Park, where activists crafted their messages to its urgent, funky beat.

Originally written as a critique of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, the song's bold lyrics—including a description of Reagan as a "fascist god in motion"—were deemed too contentious for airplay. This led to a BBC ban that severely limited its commercial reach; despite strong pre-orders and significant club rotation, the single peaked at a modest number 45 on the UK charts. Dr. Eleanor Vance, a cultural historian, remarked, "The BBC's suppression of the track highlights the enduring power of protest music to challenge authority, a tension between art and state that remains highly relevant in today's media landscape."

Responding directly to the current political climate, Ware and his bandmates are now creating a fully updated version of the classic. After years of fan requests, they are re-recording the track with modernized lyrics. "I won't reveal too much," Ware stated, "but it definitely incorporates the word Trump." This new iteration is being considered for inclusion on an album planned for a spring release. Reflecting on the song's original intent, Ware noted its cautionary message was a warning he never anticipated would become so pertinent, which explains its powerful connection with a new wave of activists.

The song's origins are deeply tied to the band's working-class roots in Sheffield and their ambition to create politically direct music. They masterfully fused a frantic, high-speed electro-punk sound with the stylistic influences of American funk and disco pioneers like Parliament and Funkadelic. The pervasive anxiety of the early 1980s, intensified by Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense program and widespread nuclear fears, directly shaped its creation. Despite its age, the song's energy remains undiminished; Heaven 17 has performed it over 600 times and continues to feature it in their live sets. Following their recent single "There's Something About You," the band will launch a UK tour on November 6th in London, with German dates and potential US shows to follow. Ware remains characteristically defiant, concluding, "It's not going to alter the way that we present ourselves... So if they want to turn us away at the border, go for it!"