Pulp, Paul Weller, Shirley Manson and Toddla T are among the artists to have signed an open letter in support of Kneecap in response to politicians and pundits calling on festivals to drop the Belfast rap trio from their line-ups because of past controversial remarks.
“This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap”, begins the letter, organised by the group’s label Heavenly Recordings.
Kneecap’s specific political opinions are not relevant here, the letter adds, because “it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture” and therefore “that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed”.
The letter also claims that it is “clear to us that influential figures and personalities within the wider music industry are attempting to influence this campaign of intimidation”. This is wrong, it adds, stating that “it is the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to actively defend artistic freedom of expression - rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own”.
Kneecap have been in the media spotlight ever since their recent Coachella performances, where they projected strongly pro-Palestine and anti-Israel content onto screens. Their critics have since honed in on footage of earlier shows where the group’s members are seen declaring “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and “the only good Tory is a dead Tory - kill your local MP”.
Those on-stage comments have resulted in condemnation from some quarters, with various politicians urging festivals and venues to cancel Kneecap’s shows, and calling on police to prosecute the group for inciting violence against politicians and inviting support for proscribed terrorist organisations.
The call for cancellation is already having some impact. Kneecap have been removed from two German festivals, Hurricane and Southside, while three scheduled German shows, in Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne, have all been cancelled. In the UK, a show as part of the Eden Sessions in Cornwall has also been pulled.
A lot of attention is now falling on the group’s scheduled appearance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, which critics say should be axed. Meanwhile in Scotland a number of politicians have called for the group to be removed from the TRNSMT line-up, with even First Minister John Swinney telling reporters that organisers of TRNSMT should “consider” the controversy and whether Kneecap should still play.
The group have specifically responded to the two controversial on-stage remarks, insisting they do not support Hamas and Hezbollah, and that they would never seek to “incite violence against any MP or individual”. They also issued apologies in connection to the “kill your local MP” remark to the families of Jo Cox and David Amess, two MPs who were murdered while in office.
However, those statements have done little to placate the group’s critics.
Despite the apologies, Kneecap have remained forthright in their responses to the current controversies, claiming that they are the victims of a coordinated smear campaign that began in the US after the pro-Palestine content they displayed at Coachella angered certain groups.
As part of that campaign, they say, a couple of isolated past remarks have been taken out of context to “manufacture moral hysteria”.
The band’s manager, Daniel Lambert, echoed that position in an interview with RTÉ. He said that as part of a “concerted campaign” targeting artists who speak out in support of Palestine, Kneecap are being held to a higher moral standard than elected political leaders.
That campaign, he argued, is basically about “telling the next young band, both through the music industry and through the political class, that you cannot speak about Palestine”.
The open letter in support of Kneecap avoids getting into any debate about Palestine and Israel, instead simply stating that, “as artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom”.
Other artists putting their name to the letter include Annie Mac, Bicep, Christy Moore, English Teacher, Enter Shikari, Fontaines DC, Idles, Massive Attack, Primal Scream and Sleaford Mods.