Village People will perform at Trump's inauguration amid ongoing feud between lead singer Victor Willis and founding members
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When the Village People belt out 'Y.M.C.A.' at Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday it will hide a long-running feud between the band's lead singer and its founding members, DailyMail.com can reveal. Victor Willis, best known for portraying the cop in the iconic disco group's original lineup, remains at odds with his original bandmates following their decades-old clash that saw him gain ownership and control of the group's name and royalties.
![[Village People Then: Its most famous lineup, Randy Jones, David Hodo, Felipe Rose, Victor Willis, Glenn Hughes and Alex Briley]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/15/94138381-14288643-Village_People_Then_Its_most_famous_lineup_Randy_Jones_David_Hod-a-2_1737129111580.jpg)
The 73-year-old singer on Monday announced Village People had accepted an invitation from the Trump campaign to perform at inaugural celebrations next week after objecting to the incoming president's use of the music at campaign events in the past. However, Willis will be the only founding member to participate as former bandmate Felipe Rose – the 'Native American' – revealed there is still bad blood among members of the group's most popular lineup.
![[Trump has been known to be a huge fan of Village People hit song Y.M.C.A., to which he's often seen dancing at his political rallies]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/16/19/94140767-14288643-Trump_has_been_known_to_be_a_huge_fan_of_Village_People_hit_song-a-33_1737055016824.jpg)
'What makes you think I'm going to be f**king there? I have nothing to do with the group,' Rose, 70, told DailyMail.com this week, citing his 2017 departure. 'I was in the group for 38 years and then Victor Willis came roaring back with his wife and sued the s**t out of everyone,' he added.
![[Announcing the group's decision to perform at the inauguration in a Facebook post on Monday, Willis said: 'We know this won't make some of you happy to hear, however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/16/94142875-14288643-Announcing_the_decision_in_a_Facebook_post_on_Monday_Willis_said-m-98_1737130573539.jpg)
Village People Now: Lead singer Victor Willis (center) on Monday announced the group accepted an invitation to perform at Trump's inaugural celebrations next week. Pictured above is the current group lineup from left to right: Nicholas Manelic (the cowboy), James Kwong (the construction worker),Javier Perez (the Native American), James J.J. Lippold (the leatherman), and James Lee (G.I.).
![[Willis is the only founding member in the current Village People lineup. He famously demanded the Trump campaign quit using the group's music at political events but has since changed his tune]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/17/94138465-14288643-Willis_is_the_only_founding_member_in_the_current_Village_People-a-118_1737133406727.jpg)
