Primal Scream showed a video with a Star of David and a swastika at the Roundhouse London. The Community Security Trust filed a complaint and the band defended the footage.
At a Primal Scream performance at London’s Roundhouse, the band displayed a Star of David with a swastika in the middle. The organizers were horrified by this and apologized. The group sees this as an art event that is intended to stimulate debate. There is now a complaint against the Scottish group.
Origin of the ad
The concert in question was the December 8 show where the band celebrated the 25th anniversary of their sixth studio album, XTRMNTR.
As the band played the track “Swastika Eyes” at the London venue, a video showing the Star of David intertwined with a swastika was presented in the background. In the images, various politicians had the anti-Semitic symbol used instead of their eyes – including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
As The Guardian reported, images of the destruction in Gaza were also shown on the screen, along with the words: “Our government is complicit in the genocide.”
The Community Security Trust, which provides advice and security to British Jews, then reported Primal Scream to the police. He also urged the organizers to initiate an “urgent investigation”.
Two different reactions
A spokesman for the venue has now apologized and said they were “appalled that anti-Semitic images were shown during the show”. He emphasized: “The content that was used without our knowledge contradicts all of our values.” The statement continued: “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and remain committed to ensuring that our spaces are places where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.”
Jewish community institutions also spoke out vehemently against the use of this symbol – which, unlike Germany, is not banned in England. A CST spokesman told The Mail that “intertwining a Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks stoking hatred of Jews.”
Editorial recommendations
The rock band then shared a post on Instagram in which they appeared to defend the images. In its statement, the group described the footage as a “work of art.” According to them, the film refers to history and is intended to focus on “where the actions of the current world governments stand in this context”. The content should lead to discussion of the topic, not “hate”. At the end of their statement, the artists invoke the right to freedom of expression, which they exercise in this form.
Read the statement here:
Political attitude of the band
Primal Scream have been vocal in their support for Palestine for years and recently paid tribute to The Only Ones’ Peter Perrett after he was arrested at a Palestine Action demonstration in London.