British band Massive Attack have come to the defence of Belfast rappers Kneecap after one of their members appeared to call for Tory MPs to be killed - pointing out that 'genocide is the story'.
Video has emerged from a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member of the Irish trio saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up.
A statement on Massive Attack’s Instagram account on Wednesday said: "Language matters of course. The hideous murders of elected politicians Jo Cox and David Amess means there’s no scope for flippancy or recklessness."
It said politicians are "strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band" while ignoring a "genocide" in Gaza.
The statement added: "Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story.
"And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British government is the real story.
"Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people."
It comes as the British Metropolitan Police assesses the video clip, along with footage from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of Kneecap appeared to shout "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" – groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.
Meanwhile, the Irish rap trio’s scheduled performance at the Eden Project, in Cornwall, was cancelled, with a spokesperson for Eden Sessions saying ticket-holders would be contacted directly and refunded.
Three more Kneecap concerts have been cancelled in Germany, BBC News reported.
British Ministers also put pressure on the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival over the Irish band’s inclusion in the line-up.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the group, comprising Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, addressed the families of David Amess and Jo Cox saying "we never intended to cause you hurt" and said they "reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual".
It added: "Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that."
They said they have "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah.
Labour MP Ms Cox was stabbed and shot in 2016 while Tory Amess was stabbed to death in 2021.
The daughter of Amess, Katie Amess, suggested the trio had been "badly advised" because the statement was "deflection and excuses and gaslighting".
She also said that it would be "very dangerous" for the group to perform at Glastonbury.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "They should apologise. I think you have seen what they have said, I think it is half-hearted.
"We completely reject in the strongest possible terms the comments that they’ve made, particularly in relation to MPs and intimidation as well as obviously the situation in the Middle East.
"It’s right that the police are looking into these videos."
Speaking on RTE’s Prime Time on Tuesday, the band’s manager Daniel Lambert said: "We’re in the space now of moral hysteria and moral outrage, and you have a band being held to a higher moral account than politicians who are ignoring international law."
He added: "The idea that that was incitement of violence against an MP is ludicrous. It was taken entirely out of context. They are performers as part of performance.
"If you were to look at dozens of comedians globally and you were to take the script of their comedy act and remove six words from a comedy act and then lay it out in a headline and say that this was dangerous, you could do that to dozens of people.
"This was a concerted campaign and the aim of this campaign is really important. It’s not about Kneecap. This has nothing to do with Kneecap or something that Kneecap may or may not have said, it’s solely about de-platforming artists.
"It’s about telling the next young band, both through the music industry and through the political class, that you can’t speak about Palestine."
Other acts have come to Kneecap's defence. Several Irish groups and solo artists, as well as the likes of Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream are among the notable music names who have supported them.
In a joint statement, also signed by Fontasines DC, Damien Dempsey and former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, as well as Blindboy Boatclub and Christy Moore, a group of artists said there has been a "clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform" Kneecap.
It went on: "As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.
"In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people."
The full list of signatories is: Annie Mac, Beoga, Bicep, Biig Piig, Blindboy Boatclub, Bob Vylan, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Delivery, Dexys, English Teacher, Enter Shikari, Fontaines D.C., Gemma Dunleavy, Gurriers, Idles, Iona Zajac, Jelani Blackman, John Francis Flynn, Joshua Idehen, Katy J Pearson, Kojaque, Lankum, Lisa O’Neill, Lowkey, Massive Attack, Martyn Ware, Paul Weller, Peter Perrett, Poor Creature, Primal Scream, Pulp, Roisin El Cherif, Shirley Manson, Sleaford Mods, Soft Play, The Mary Wallopers, The Pogues, Thin Lizzy, Toddla T.
Meanwhile, the UK's counter-terror police will investigate online videos allegedly showing Kneecap calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "On April 22, we were made aware of an online video believed to be from a music event in London in November 2024. Following this, we were made aware of a further video, believed to be from another music event in London in November 2023.
"Both videos were referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos.
"The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time."
Source: Press Association
