Numerous of their UK music industry peers have shown support for Kneecap as the Irish hip-hop trio are under investigation by the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit. Following the inclusion of pro-Palestinian messaging in their Coachella performance last month, the group are facing what they've deemed a "coordinated smear campaign."
Per the advice of the Irish prime minister, Kneecap issued a statement earlier this week clarifying that they do not support Hamas or Hezbollah despite the resurfaced concert footage in question, in which one of the members allegedly says "up Hamas, up Hezbollah," as well as reportedly urging people to kill their local MP.
Massive Attack are among the bands that have now backed Kneecap, issuing a statement of solidarity on Instagram yesterday (April 30). "Kneecap are not the story," the trip hop collective wrote. "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."
The London-based indie label Heavenly Recordings also posted a statement of solidarity that was signed by the likes of Pulp, Primal Scream, the Pogues, Fontaines D.C., Thin Lizzy, English Teacher, Sleaford Mods, Enter Shikari and Bicep.
"This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap," the statement reads. Elsewhere, it continues:
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 question of agreeing with Kneecap's political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed.
Read both statements in full below. As per Billboard, amid the post-Coachella controversy, Kneecap's weekly streaming numbers in the US have nearly doubled.