‘It's an absolute disgrace' – The Wolfe Tones are ‘totally behind' under-fire Kneecap
Brian Warfield of The Wolfe Tones performing at the Electric Picnic in 2023. Photo: Kieran Frost/Redferns
The Wolfe Tones are the latest Irish and UK musicians to publicly voice their support for under-fire Belfast group Kneecap.
It follows last week's revelation that the rappers are being investigated by counter-terrorism police in the UK following a video allegedly showing them calling for the deaths of British Tory MPs.
They are also feeling the heat from an incendiary performance at the Coachella music festival in California last month during which they described Israel's military action in Gaza as a US-funded genocide.
As a result, group members have been called anti-Semitic and 'terrorist sympathisers' of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Kneecap have courted controversy in recent weeks
Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 5th
Due to the controversies, Kneecap have had numerous summer festivals and show appearances cancelled in Europe and America.
However, a string of artists including Christy Moore, Fontaines DC, Paul Weller, Pulp, Massive Attack and Shane MacGowan's widow Victoria Mary Clarke are supporting Kneecap.
And in an exclusive interview with the Sunday World, Brian Warfield of The Wolfe Tones said: 'We are totally behind Kneecap. I believe those young lads are very courageous and we don't want them left out there on their own.
'They are only starting their career and we totally and absolutely support them. It's an absolute disgrace that they are being portrayed as public enemy number one at the moment.
'We went through that ourselves for years. Our music was banned from radio by the then Minister Conor Cruise O'Brien under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act in the '70s. That Act banned paramilitaries from speaking on the airwaves, but he included us in that saying he didn't want to hear any more Wolfe Tones-type songs on the radio because it was supporting violence in the North.
'So you couldn't sing a song about any Irish hero at all because they felt it was supporting violence. It was a ridiculous comparison to make.'
Singer-songwriter and musician Warfield says he fully backs the stance taken by Kneecap on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Brian Warfield of The Wolfe Tones performing at the Electric Picnic in 2023. Photo: Kieran Frost/Redferns
'Kneecap were just drawing attention to the atrocities in Gaza,' Brian says. 'I think that's their objective. They are angry about it. They want to… highlight what's going on because nobody seems to be supporting the Palestinians and nobody seems to be looking at what really is happening, which is a genocide and ethnic cleansing. And I have no doubt about that…it's what Netanyahu wants.
'I support the Palestinian cause and I just don't understand why the world is not up in arms about what's going on.
'It's just heartbreaking when you look at the children being starved. It's very difficult to look at it. I have to force myself to look at it because I want to know what's happening there.
'And just because I would criticise Israel for what is happening in Gaza, it doesn't mean I'm anti-Semitic, far from it. Kneecap criticising Israel doesn't mean they are supporting Hamas or are anti-Semitic or anything like that.
'I believe that everybody has a place in the world and the way the Israelis have treated the Palestinians is beyond belief. It should be called out more and it's not. And that's worrying.
'So I think it's totally unfair to demonise Kneecap for speaking out. They are on the crest of a wave and the way they speak out takes a lot of courage.'
Celebrity Sharon Osbourne has called for Kneecap's work visa to be revoked for America.
'I couldn't believe that,' Brian says. 'I thought she'd be more understanding being married to a famous musician (Ozzy). I thought she'd have a greater understanding of the way musicians are very outspoken about things. '
Kneecap's manager Daniel Lambert said the group are happy to apologise in person to the daughter of murdered British Conservative MP David Amess after the controversy over a chant of 'kill your local MP.'
Kneecap have already published an online apology to the families of Mr Amess and Labour MP Joe Cox after footage from a gig in 2023 allegedly showed one member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.'
They also insisted that they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah.
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