Major UK & Irish Artists Launch “Resistance Alliance” to Fight Music Industry Censorship Over Gaza
LONDON, July 19, 2025 – A powerful new coalition of leading UK and Irish musicians has formed to push back against what they call “aggressive, vexatious campaigns” of censorship silencing artists who speak out on Palestine, particularly regarding Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Spearheaded by iconic acts Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Irish punks Fontaines D.C., and Belfast rap trio Kneecap, the alliance vows to protect artists facing “threats into silence or career cancellation” for their political views. They specifically condemned the situation in Gaza as having “moved beyond description”.
Taking a Stand Against “Intimidation Tactics”
The group, emerging from a groundswell of artist anger, directly names campaign group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) as a key orchestrator of censorship efforts. They allege UKLFI uses legal threats, reports to police, and pressure on venues to intimidate artists. This accusation follows a recent documentary by Led By Donkeys exposing UKLFI’s alleged “attempted censorship activities” and “weaponisation of antisemitism”.
“Artists are being targeted for simply bearing witness and demanding justice,” a spokesperson for the alliance stated. “We are here to say: no more. We will support those under attack and fight for the right to speak without fear of career-ending reprisals.”
Recent Cases Spark Action
The alliance’s formation comes amidst several high-profile controversies:
- Bob Vylan: The punk-rap duo faced intense backlash after chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF” at Glastonbury. The BBC apologised, police launched a criminal investigation (still ongoing), their agent dropped them, and the US Deputy Secretary of State announced a US travel ban. Bob Vylan denied hate speech, calling the response a “distraction” from “the slaughter of innocents”.
- Kneecap: The Irish group sparked global headlines in May after projecting “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” at Coachella. They faced a “global political and media witch-hunt,” leading to cancelled gigs and a terrorism charge against a member for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag. However, in a significant development yesterday (July 18), Avon and Somerset Police announced they were dropping the criminal investigation into Kneecap due to “insufficient evidence”.
Solidarity and Demands
The alliance is bolstered by an open letter, “Artists Say No to Censorship,” circulated by Kneecap’s label. It gained massive traction, signed by over 100 prominent artists including Christy Moore, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Mogwai, Orbital, Paloma Faith, Kae Tempest, Tom Morello, and Leftfield.
Beyond fighting censorship, the alliance outlined concrete political demands:
- An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
- Immediate, unfettered access for recognized aid agencies.
- An end to the “atrocious targeting” of medical and aid workers.
- A cessation of all UK arms sales and licenses to Israel.
The Other Side
Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, countered the alliance’s claims: “Massive Attack has launched an attack on our organization, which helps to protect victims of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel racism.” UKLFI confirmed reporting both Bob Vylan and Kneecap to police and warning venues about potential “risks”.
Massive Attack responded, stating their own visuals referenced in complaints were part of a larger artistic collage and taken out of context by critics.
What Now?
This “Resistance Alliance” represents a significant and coordinated pushback from within the music industry against perceived suppression of pro-Palestinian voices. It signals a readiness for a public battle over artistic freedom, political speech, and the interpretation of criticism of Israel versus antisemitism. The group urges vulnerable artists to contact them directly for support, marking a new phase in the cultural response to the Gaza conflict.