“This isn’t a political assertion, it is a humanitarian assertion”
The Homicide Capital have given a passionate speech exterior a Berlin venue after their gig was pulled as a result of band’s use of a Palestinian flag.
The Irish group have been resulting from play at Membership Gretchen within the German capital on Saturday evening (Could 10) as a part of a world tour supporting their third album ‘Blindness’, which was launched in February.
The present was cancelled by native authorities, nevertheless, once they discovered of the band’s intentions to show a Palestinian flag on the stage throughout their efficiency, one thing which they’ve achieved in any respect of their current exhibits.
Reacting to the information, the band gave a speech exterior the venue to lots of their followers, which they’ve posted on Instagram. In addition they went on to play an acoustic present within the open air for these in attendance.
Holding a Palestinian flag aloft, frontman James McGovern defined the band’s stance on the problem. “We pulled into Berlin this morning, we had no concept that we weren’t allowed to fly this flag right here right this moment,” he stated. “We came upon early this afternoon. That is from the band’s standpoint.”
“We mentioned it for an hour at size, what we must always do, we got here to the choice that we weren’t going to take the flag off the stage. That was a choice fairly simply made, however we mentioned attainable outcomes – what in the event that they determine to cancel the present? We considered all of you deeply, as a result of we care about you deeply, and I imply that. And our choice was that we’re gonna put the flag on stage.”
He continued that they thought-about changing the flag with a banner studying “Free Palestine”, however he stated the authorities wouldn’t permit this both. “So it’s not nearly nationwide flags, it’s about political statements,” he stated.
“To us, this isn’t only a political assertion, it’s a humanitarian assertion. We’ve been saying that in interviews for the entire time that we’ve been talking about it as folks. It’s not all about politics, it’s about people who find themselves dying and being slaughtered each day, and that’s taking place proper now.”
“So, for us as a band who has had this flag on their stage for numerous exhibits now, it will be the fallacious factor for us to do to take it off the stage simply in order that the venue is stored pleased. We don’t agree with that.
“We want stay music and artwork and theatre may very well be freed from political dialogue and issues like that, however because the world as it’s, sadly it simply can’t be. That’s the way in which it’s so we’ll be again to you as quickly as we will and we recognize all of your assist deeply, however most significantly, free Palestine.”
Watch a clip of the band’s subsequent acoustic efficiency exterior the venue above, as captured by a fan in attendance.
Germany has strict legal guidelines towards hate speech and antisemitism and Kneecap’s scheduled exhibits within the nation have been just lately cancelled within the mild of their outspoken feedback at Coachella and elsewhere concerning the Israeli authorities’s ongoing operations in Gaza.
The backlash towards Kneecap prompted numerous main artists to signal a letter written by their label Heavenly that stood up for artists’ “freedom of expression”. The letter learn: “In a democracy, no political figures or political events ought to have the proper to dictate who does and doesn’t play at music festivals or gigs that shall be loved by hundreds of individuals.”
The Homicide Capital, too, have been constant of their assist of Gaza and the Palestinian folks, donating income from their single ‘Love Of Nation’ in direction of help in Palestine. McGovern stated the music is about “the darkish aspect of patriotism and nationalism, and what they grow to be when they’re warped and weaponised.”
In a press launch, he added: “The world over, we’re seeing hatred of “different” spreading like a illness. No claiming of land right this moment is extra barbaric than the continuing genocide of the Palestinian folks.”
“We’re releasing a 7” file of ‘Love Of Nation’, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Medical Help for Palestine. Within the face of, and past such clear acts of evil, it’s extra very important than ever to cherish the richness of our various communities and the facility of human connection. We should stand agency towards the rise of nationalist ideologies and converse up for these whose worlds are being torn aside by hatred and violence.”
The band additionally mentioned the problem with NME final 12 months: “Nationalism, patriotism, all of those subjects are scorching on the tongue of everyone, for thus many alternative causes: the genocide happening in Palestine, Trump being re-elected. Irishness comes up on a regular basis for us – most of the time, as a result of we’re feeling pleasure for our nation – [but also] dismay on the manner issues are being dealt with by our authorities, the way in which persons are being let down and pushed into corners. There’s numerous that on the planet. Not simply the people who find themselves committing atrocities, however people who find themselves stuffed with this hatred of ‘different’.”
NME awarded ‘Blindness’ three stars, noting: “‘Love Of Nation’, recorded in a single stay take, is a sprawling meditation on the push and pull between patriotism, nationalism and xenophobia, and exhibits McGovern’s songwriting at its most incisive. If The Homicide Capital’s intention was to purge themselves of inertia, then ‘Blindness’ can solely be judged as successful.”
The band are set to play their largest headline present thus far on the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin on July 19, with visitors Mushy Play and Mary In The Junkyard. Discover any remaining tickets here.
Different main exhibits within the pipeline embody supporting The Maccabees at All Factors East 2025 in London on August 24 (tickets here) and opening for Queens Of The Stone Age at Sheffield’s Rock N Roll Circus on August 27 and 28 (tickets here).