Kneecap

Death to the IDF

 

Aye, it's mental. Actually being anti-Semitic is abhorrent, really it's become meaningless.

 

I dont mind bands promoting politics, its always been a part of provocative music and I find it amusing watching the moral panic it causes. I grew up loving the pistols, the Clash, two tone, etc. In general I dont place much value in the political thought of musicians or celebrities anymore than anyone else but as Ive said, its more interesting than just emptyheaded pop stuff.

In this instance I think its absurd that such moral panic becomes the headline news rather than the actual war and the slaughter of people.

What does GAF stand for? And what was pointed in what I said other than about old singers?

 

The worst thing is that it’s been used as a tool to beat critics with,so regularly and for such a long time,that a lot of people take every accusation of antisemitism with a pinch of salt now.

I almost role my eyes these days when there’s an accusation.There are real antisemites out there the funny thing is a lot of them actually support the state of Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza.

 

I think the point was the "they've done very well from all the drama I'm sure"

They have been making music for about 8 years now and have supported Palestine the whole time, yet I bet you only heard of them fairly recently.

If I'm picking up Paul correctly then he is referring to that as being a veiled dig that this is a publicity stunt when it couldn't be further from the truth.

 

They have undoubtedly done very well from the drama. Its a big part of their business. They are called 'kneecap' and they were on the news for telling people to 'kill their local MP! They arent doing that to be ignored are they?

Not a dig, just a statement of fact. Their profiles, along with that Bob Dyvan guy, have gone through the roof.

(And no, I hadnt heard of either until the controversy. Which is kind of my point)

 

They have been supporting Palestine for 8 years. The kill your MP thing was over 2 years ago. For a band using these issues to drum up publicity they never done a very good job if it took them 8 years to drum up said publicity.

The reason you (and others) have now heard of them is because of the movie. The issues they are now facing is because they became more famous not because of their stance on Palestine.

 

Surprised you haven't heard of them before @Sween. They've been about for a fair while and have had other run ins with Brit establishment fuckwits like Badenoch.

2 things can be true at the same time @Sean Daleer and without it lessening their credibility:

1.Kneecap can be genuinely interested in getting the message out there about Palestine and the ongoing Genocide.
2. They can be gaining notice because it is, for whatever reason controversial. Will leave it at that as this isn't H&P. Promotion is part of being an artist. I see it as a side-effect of having principles though not really the objective.

They are undoubtedly political in their stances. The main point about the band is to promote Irish language and culture. So again what they are doing is in keeping with what they've always been @Sween

They fall into the performer and artist category for me rather than musicians. More KLF than Madonna if you want. They themselves seem to acknowledge this. Part of their ethos is to provoke. That it is so easy to do in this case is the concerning bit.

Picking apart a musical concert and words said as part of a performance is really undermining all our freedoms.

I, for one am glad that we at least have some people coming out and saying something, even if it isn't perfect. It's far better than the prevailing silence and coverup from pretty much all of the British establishment and much more.

 

Cannae wait till next year when they get picked to represent Ireland at Eurovision....now that would make it worth watching.

 

Still even haven't listened to them yet..just enjoying them giving it to isrehell&uk gov etc

 

I had heard the name before but never knew what they sounded like, looked like, or anything else about them until the controversy. My musical knowledge is about 20 years behind the curve!

As Ive said, I like they exist. I like the 'offence' they cause and the tabloids getting all upset. I like the pearl clutching and the mock outrage. I tuned in to watch their set just to see what the hype was about. I dont hate it at all, just not for me.

And I agree with everything else you say. I find it odd that stating rappers and punks are there to agitate and cause drama to get noticed is somehow controversial.

I googled GAF so I do now.

They have become bigger than they every would be without the subject of Israel and Palestine. NomDePlum articulates this well.

Everything else you say feels like quite the stretch from me stating that they are doing very well from the drama. They are.

 

This will hopefully start at one of my favourite songs of theirs.

 

It's Coachella rather than the movie has brought them into the spotlight. Bringing the spotlight on Palestine in the heart of the Zionist stronghold didn't go down well. What was particularly annoying for them is that they were highlighting the genocide to the youth of America

 

Coachella is a result of the new found fame on the back of the movie though.

If not for the movie being a success they would not have been thrust into the spotlight as much and previous statements made would still be ignored as they were before Coachella.

I guess my point is they aren't famous due to their stance on Palestine, that has always been a part of their act. It's only become an issue now that they have name recognition.

 

Loved that they did that. Really stirred it up, it is only a drop in the ocean but at least it's a drop.

That they haven't backed down but doubled down after having had fairly punitive treatment from US authorities and political pressure on them and those that might give them work I think speaks volumes for them

Some of the establishment whitewashing and deplatforming to stop anything being said on what is happening in Gaza will live with me for the rest of my life. But so will some of the groups that have stood up for it, liked Kneecap before for their constant Brit-baiting but their stance here just makes me admire them more.

 

I really think we are doing the lads a disservice saying that their fame is due to support for Palestine at Coachella.

As said previously they were not asked to play Coachella based on their politics. They earned the right to play festivals based on the success of the movie.

The political message is now being highlighted due to their success, not the other way about.

 

I dont think we are disagreeing.

Politics, offence, and bands becoming big have been intertwined as long as punk and hip hop existed, and long before.

I mean Public Enemy (also accused of antisemitism back in the day) spoke about racism, inequality, and issues of social justice. They also went on stage with mock machine guns and dressed as militant black panthers.

The Clash got banned from the BBC for causing offence. The very song (White Riot) spoke about racial tension and discontented youth. An anti-racist band banned for racism no less...

Both benefitted massively from the controversy they created.

Theres nothing new under the sun. Kneecap are just doing this for a new generation arent they?