Culture Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over...

Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza

-

- Advertisment -
ADVERTISEMENT

Celebrated British trip hop collective Massive Attack have announced an alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza against “intimidations from within” the music industry. 

Massive Attack took to social media last night to share a statement announcing the “movement” – a union of musicians who have spoken out over the Israel-Palestine war and have faced attempts of censorship. 

The statement reads: “The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description. We write as artists who’ve chose to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there & the role of the UK Government in facilitating it.” 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Massive Attack (@massiveattackofficial)

“Because of our expressions of conscience, we’ve been subject to various intimidations from within our industry (live & recorded) & legally 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.” 

This makes reference to Led By Donkeys, the UK political campaign group that was formed in 2018 as an anti-Brexit group. They premiered a new documentary last night about UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI) and how they attempted to silence Bob Vylan following their controversial Glastonbury performance last month. UKLFI have claimed responsibility for getting Bob Vylan taken off several festival line-ups in the UK, as well as actions against Kneecap.  

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Led By Donkeys (@ledbydonkeys)

Later in the statement released by Massive Attack, the band say: “Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won’t standby & 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 concerted about industrial or legal repercussions to contact us.” 

The post ends with a list of collective demands that Massive Attack and supporting artists have put together: “Immediate, unfettered access to Gaza for recognised international aid agencies without military threat”; “the end of the atrocious targeting of medical & aid workers”; “an end to to UK arm sales/licenses to Israel”; “an immediate & permanent ceasefire”; “a free Palestine”.

Massive Attack said of the alliance in a statement to the Guardian: “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 at that because of the level of censorship within their industry or from highly organised external legal bodies, terrifying them and their management teams with aggressive legal actions. The intention is clear and obvious: to silence them.” 

Artists who have already expressed their support for the alliance include Kneecap, Fontaines D.C. and Brian Eno.  

Kneecap added in their own post: “End threats and censorship against artists who speak out against the genocide in Palestine. Speak out. Stand up. We are the majority.” 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par KNEECAP (@kneecap32)

In April, Massive Attack issued a statement supporting Kneecap, following the news that the Irish rap trio were under investigation by counter-terrorism police in the UK.  

The band were also joined by Dua Lipa, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and ex-footballer and present Gary Lineker – among other high-profile names – in penning a letter to urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “end UK complicity” in Gaza. 

The letter demanded all UK arms sales to Israel to be immediately suspended and that the government commit to seeking a ceasefire for “the children of Gaza”. 

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Choose Love (@chooselove)

Previously, Massive Attack teamed up with Fontaines D.C. and Young Fathers on a 2023 Gaza benefit single, with 100 per cent of the profits from the single donated to the charity Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders to help their emergency operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

Madonna urges Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza ‘before it’s too late’

ADVERTISEMENT Pop icon Madonna is pleading with Pope Leo XIV to travel to Gaza to “bring your light to the children before it’s too late.”  She posted a message online saying that her plea was motivated by her son Rocco’s birthday.   “I feel the best gift I can give to him as a mother

Taylor Swift announces her 12th studio album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

ADVERTISEMENT TS12 is a go.   Following intense speculation over the last 24 hours, Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album, titled 'The Life of a Showgirl'.  Swift announced the album on her website shortly after a countdown timer expired at 12:12am ET (06:12 CET) this morning. This comes after Taylor Nation - an

Niger probes Martian meteorite sale as questions swirl over origins

ADVERTISEMENT It’s not every day a chunk of Mars ends up under the hammer in Manhattan – especially one weighing in at a hefty 25 kilos. But that’s exactly what happened in July when NWA 16788, the largest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth, fetched a record-breaking price at auction. Now, Niger wants to know

Jimmy Kimmel confirms Italian citizenship as Trump targets opponents

ADVERTISEMENT Celebrated American comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has revealed he has obtained Italian citizenship, following Donald Trump’s comments that Kimmel’s show could be “next” on the chopping block after CBS cancelled Stephen Colbert’s show.  Kimmel, a longtime critic of Trump, referred to his dual citizenship during an appearance on The Sarah Silverman Podcast.
- Advertisement -

Harry and Meghan extend Netflix deal amid plans for new content

ADVERTISEMENT Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have renewed their partnership with Netflix in a fresh multi-year deal, continuing their collaboration through Archewell Productions. The couple say the agreement reflects their mission to create “thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally.” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the extension on Monday (11 August), with Netflix

Cristiano Ronaldo engaged to partner Georgina Rodríguez

ADVERTISEMENT Football star Cristiano Ronaldo has proposed to his long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez. She announced the news on social media, posting a picture of a large ring with the words: "Yes I do. In this and in all my lives". Her post about the engagement, which has been viewed at least 4 million times, was

Must read

Madonna urges Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza ‘before it’s too late’

ADVERTISEMENT Pop icon Madonna is pleading with Pope Leo XIV to travel to Gaza to “bring your light to the children before it’s too late.”  She posted a message online saying that her plea was motivated by her son Rocco’s birthday.   “I feel the best gift I can give to him as a mother

Taylor Swift announces her 12th studio album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

ADVERTISEMENT TS12 is a go.   Following intense speculation over the last 24 hours, Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album, titled 'The Life of a Showgirl'.  Swift announced the album on her website shortly after a countdown timer expired at 12:12am ET (06:12 CET) this morning. This comes after Taylor Nation - an
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you