Latest news with #MassiveAttack
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Massive Attack's Palestine alliance
English trip hop band, Massive Attack, have launched an alliance for musicians who are facing intimidation and threats from within the industry over their support for Palestine. The band took to Instagram and said that they are hoping to protect artists from organised censorship that silences the voices speaking against genocide. Earlier this year, Irish hip hop trio, Kneecap's Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence after the band displayed a Hezbollah flag on stage in London. They were removed from the Scottish festival TRNSMT (pronounced 'transmit') due to safety concerns and their set at Glastonbury was excluded from BBC's live broadcast. Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds also raised a Palestinian flag during their concert in Milan on May 25, joining the international chorus against mass genocide. Similarly, after Bob Vylan chanted, "Death, death to the Israel Defense Forces" during their performance at Glastonbury, they were dropped by their booking agency and removed from several concert line-ups. Vylan addressed the controversy at a concert by saying, "We just want to see the liberation of the Palestinian people. That's it. I don't think it's too crazy a thing to ask. I don't think it's a violent thing to ask, right? The liberation of the Palestinian people from a tyrannical oppressor. That's all we want. Each and every single time, they will not silence us." Massive Attack's stance Joining these musicians, Massive Attack's statement further supported the cause. "The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description. We write as artists who've chosen to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there and the role of the UK Government in facilitating it," the noted. Reflecting on their experiences, they shared, "We're aware of the scale of aggressive, vexatious campaigns operated by UK Lawyers For Israel and multiple incidences of intimidation within the industry itself. They are designed solely to silence and silence artists from speaking their hearts and minds." The UK lawyers For Israel has used lawfare in Britain "To suppress opposition to the Gaza genocide," says World Socilaist Website. "They have brought a raft of lawsuits to stifle free speech, chill public debate and intimidate Palestinian solidarity activists. Those targeted include, among others, academics, doctors, students and charity organisations." Taking a jab at the resistance from these institutions, the band wrote, "Because of our expressions of conscience, we've too have been subjected to various intimidations from within our industry that are all live and recorded. We have also faced legal repercussions via organised bodies such as UK Lawyers For Israel, whose range of activities has now finally been exposed in a new documentary film projected last night by the Led By Donkeys collective." They further talked about the sources of this censorship, claiming, "There is a level of censorship within the musicians' industry or from highly organised external legal bodies that terrify them and their management teams with aggressive legal action. The intention is clear and obvious: to silence them." Supporting fellow musicians Extending their support to fellow artists, they penned, "Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won't standby and allow other artists – particularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerability – to be threatened into silence or career cancellation." The band made the intentions of their efforts clear by saying, "This collective action is really about offering some kind of solidarity to those artists who are living day after day in a screen-time genocide, but are worried about using their platforms to express their horror." They sent out a motivating message, asking musicians to assemble. "In this spirit, we encourage artists who've been placed in this position, or those who now wish to use their platforms to talk about Palestine, but are concerned about industrial or legal repercussions to contact us." The band further urged the musical community, "If you've felt anxious about speaking out before but feel it's too late, it isn't. It's never too late to join this movement. Everyone is welcome." The band put forward several demands. "We want to work together to share experiences, and factual resources," they stated. "To be creative. Vitally we want to stand in strength and solidarity to collectively demand the following." Their list included, "Immediate, unfettered access to Gaza for recognised international aid agencies without military threat, end to UK arm sales and licenses to Israel, end of the atrocious targeting of medical and aid workers and an immediate and permanent ceasefire. A free Palestine." Various artists such as Kneecap, Fontaines D.C., Brian Eno, and Garbage have also echoed the need for an unfiltered voice against the atrocities taking place in Palestine. Calling an end to unwarranted pressure, Kneecap wrote, "End threats and censorship against artists who speak out against the genocide in Palestine. Speak out. Stand up. We are the majority."
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
British band Massive Attack launches alliance for pro Palestine music community
English trip hop band, Massive Attack, have launched an alliance for musicians who are facing intimidation and threats from within the industry over their support for Palestine. The band took to Instagram and said that they are hoping to protect artists from organised censorship that silences the voices speaking against genocide. Earlier this year, Irish hip hop trio, Kneecap's Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence after the band displayed a Hezbollah flag on stage in London. They were removed from the Scottish festival TRNSMT (pronounced 'transmit') due to safety concerns and their set at Glastonbury was excluded from BBC's live broadcast. Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds also raised a Palestinian flag during their concert in Milan on May 25, joining the international chorus against mass genocide. Similarly, after Bob Vylan chanted, 'Death, death to the Israel Defense Forces' during their performance at Glastonbury, they were dropped by their booking agency and removed from several concert line-ups. Vylan addressed the controversy at a concert by saying, 'We just want to see the liberation of the Palestinian people. That's it. I don't think it's too crazy a thing to ask. I don't think it's a violent thing to ask, right? The liberation of the Palestinian people from a tyrannical oppressor. That's all we want. Each and every single time, they will not silence us.' Massive Attack's stance Joining these musicians, Massive Attack's statement further supported the cause. 'The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description. We write as artists who've chosen to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there & the role of the UK Government in facilitating it,' the noted. Reflecting on their experiences, they shared, 'We're aware of the scale of aggressive, vexatious campaigns operated by UK Lawyers For Israel and multiple incidences of intimidation within the industry itself. They are designed solely to silence and silence artists from speaking their hearts and minds.' The UK lawyers For Israel has used lawfare in Britain 'To suppress opposition to the Gaza genocide,' says World Socilaist Website. 'They have brought a raft of lawsuits to stifle free speech, chill public debate and intimidate Palestinian solidarity activists. Those targeted include, among others, academics, doctors, students and charity organisations.' Taking a jab at the resistance from these institutions, the band wrote, 'Because of our expressions of conscience, we've too have been subjected to various intimidations from within our industry that are all live and recorded. We have also faced legal repercussions via organised bodies such as UK Lawyers For Israel, whose range of activities has now finally been exposed in a new documentary film projected last night by the Led By Donkeys collective.' They further talked about the sources of this censorship, claiming, 'There is a level of censorship within the musicians' industry or from highly organised external legal bodies that terrify them and their management teams with aggressive legal action. The intention is clear and obvious: to silence them.' Supporting fellow musicians Extending their support to fellow artists, they penned, 'Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won't standby and allow other artists – particularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerability – to be threatened into silence or career cancellation.' The band made the intentions of their efforts clear by saying, 'This collective action is really about offering some kind of solidarity to those artists who are living day after day in a screen-time genocide, but are worried about using their platforms to express their horror.' They sent out a motivating message, asking musicians to assemble. 'In this spirit, we encourage artists who've been placed in this position, or those who now wish to use their platforms to talk about Palestine, but are concerned about industrial or legal repercussions to contact us.' The band further urged the musical community, 'If you've felt anxious about speaking out before but feel it's too late, it isn't. It's never too late to join this movement. Everyone is welcome.' The band put forward several demands. 'We want to work together to share experiences, and factual resources,' they stated. 'To be creative. Vitally we want to stand in strength and solidarity to collectively demand the following.' Their list included, 'Immediate, unfettered access to Gaza for recognised international aid agencies without military threat, end to UK arm sales and licenses to Israel, end of the atrocious targeting of medical & aid workers and an immediate and permanent ceasefire. A free Palestine.' Various artists such as Kneecap, Fontaines D.C., Brian Eno, and Garbage have also echoed the need for an unfiltered voice against the atrocities taking place in Palestine. Calling an end to unwarranted pressure, Kneecap wrote, 'End threats and censorship against artists who speak out against the genocide in Palestine. Speak out. Stand up. We are the majority.' Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Garbage join artists opposing pro-Palestine censorship
The group, known as Ethical Syndicate Palestine, was launched by the band Massive Attack in response to what they claim is a coordinated campaign to silence artists speaking out against the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Alongside Garbage, other acts signed up to the initiative include Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, Brian Eno and a number of other musicians and producers who have voiced solidarity with Palestine. READ MORE: 55 arrested in Westminster as protests grow over Palestine Action ban The announcement comes in the wake of a new documentary released by campaigning group Led By Donkeys, which exposes the activities of UK Lawyers for Israel Ltd (UKLFI). According to the film, the group has used legal and institutional pressure to silence pro-Palestine activism, particularly in the arts and cultural sectors. Led By Donkeys stated: 'UK Lawyers for Israel Ltd has tried to silence various voices supporting Palestine. Their charitable wing has made public statements rejecting international law.' In a statement shared on Instagram, Massive Attack wrote: 'Because of our expressions of conscience, we've been subject to various intimidations from within our industry ... and legally via organised bodies such as UKLFI.' They described the situation in Gaza as having 'moved beyond description,' and called on the wider music community to support younger, more vulnerable artists who may feel unable to speak out. The group urged those impacted to contact the Ethical Syndicate Palestine directly. Led By Donkeys added: 'The weaponisation of antisemitism ... not only hurts civil liberties and human rights, it also damages the real fight against antisemitism.' The crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in UK music has escalated in recent months. Bob Vylan were dropped by their agents and investigated by police after chanting 'death to the IDF' at Glastonbury. READ MORE: RECAP: Activists defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts at Edinburgh demo Meanwhile, Kneecap member Liam Ó hAnnaidh, AKA Mo Chara, is facing prosecution under the Terrorism Act after allegedly holding a Hezbollah flag on stage. Despite mounting pressures, more musicians – many previously seen as apolitical – are breaking their silence. In May, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds raised a Palestinian flag during a concert in Milan, joining a chorus of international dissent.
Roya News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Roya News
British band forms alliance of musicians to advocate for Gaza
A new alliance of prominent UK and Irish musicians, spearheaded by Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Kneecap, and Fontaines D.C., publicly announced its formation. This collective aims to combat what its members describe as "aggressive, vexatious campaigns" of censorship within the music industry, particularly targeting artists who speak out against 'Israel's' ongoing genocide in Gaza. The alliance emphasizes that the situation in Gaza has 'moved beyond description'. The alliance's core mission is to protect artists from "threats into silence or career cancellation" and encourages vulnerable artists to contact them for support. They have outlined concrete demands, including an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, immediate and unfettered access for recognized aid agencies, an end to the 'atrocious targeting' of medical and aid workers, and a cessation of UK arms sales and licenses to 'Israel'. Censorship Campaigns and Recent Incidents The alliance directly addresses "aggressive, vexatious campaigns" and "intimidation tactics" experienced by artists who voice opinions on Palestine. They explicitly name UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) as instrumental in orchestrating these campaigns, including legal threats and reports to law enforcement. The campaign group Led By Donkeys released a documentary on July 17, claiming to expose UKLFI's "attempted censorship activities" and the "weaponisation of antisemitism". The formation of this alliance was directly spurred by several recent, high-profile controversies: Bob Vylan: At the Glastonbury festival, the UK punk-rap duo chanted "Free, free Palestine" and "Death to the IDF." The BBC issued an apology, police initiated a criminal investigation, their agent terminated their contract, and the US Deputy Secretary of State announced a US travel ban. Bob Vylan denied accusations of hate speech, calling the backlash a "distraction" from "the slaughter of innocents" in Gaza. Kneecap: The Irish hip-hop trio gained global attention in May 2025 after projecting "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people" at the Coachella festival. They faced a "global political and media witch-hunt," leading to concert cancellations and a terrorism charge against a member for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag. However, on July 18, 2025, Avon and Somerset Police announced they were dropping the criminal investigation into Kneecap due to "insufficient evidence". An open letter titled "Artists Say No to Censorship," circulated by Kneecap's record label, garnered widespread support from over 100 US, British, and Irish bands, musicians, and DJs, including Christy Moore, Dexys, Fontaines D.C., Leftfield, Massive Attack, Mogwai, Orbital, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Brian Eno, Paloma Faith, Kae Tempest, and Tom Morello. Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, asserted that Massive Attack had "launched an attack on our organization, which helps to protect victims of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel racism". UKLFI confirmed reporting Bob Vylan and Kneecap to the police and warning venues about "risks". Massive Attack countered that their visuals were part of a larger collage and taken out of context.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Kneecap and Brian Eno call on artists to join syndicate to support Palestine
They, along with campaign group Led By Donkeys, have all posted the same message on Instagram, calling on other artists who fear they will be 'threatened into silence or career cancellation' for talking about Palestine to join them in a syndicate. Massive Attack and Brian Eno have long spoken out in support of Palestine, while Kneecap have made headlines in recent months after one of their members was charged with a terrorism offence relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. The Irish rap group claim this is part of a smear campaign against them because of their vocal support for Palestine and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which they say is a genocide. 'The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description,' the post read. 'We write as artists who've chosen to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there and the role of the UK Government in facilitating it. 'Because of our expressions of conscience, we've been subject to various intimidations from within our industry (live and recorded) and legally via organised bodies such as UK Lawyers For Israel. 'Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won't stand by and allow other artists – particularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerability – to be threatened into silence or career cancellation. 'In this spirit, we encourage artists who've been placed in this position, or those who now wish to use their platforms to talk about Palestine, but are concerned about industrial repercussions, to contact us @ ethicalsyndicatepalestine@ The Instagram post also made a series of demands, including an immediate ceasefire, an end to UK arms sales and licences to Israel, and a free Palestine. A spokeswoman for UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI) accused Massive Attack of having 'launched an attack on our organisation, which helps to protect victims of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel racism'. She said that following Massive Attack's set at London's Lido Festival in June, 'we were contacted by several Jewish and Israeli audience members who were deeply distressed and traumatised' after the act invited an 'anti-Israel activist' on stage. Kneecap performed to a sea of Palestinian flags during their set at Glastonbury Festival in June. Their performance followed that of punk rap duo Bob Vylan, who spoke out against Israel. Police have since launched an investigation into the group, formed in Ipswich in 2017, after their frontman led crowds in chants of 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)' during their set at the Somerset music festival. Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May, and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 20.
