Banksy: Many people know his works, but only a few know his identity.
Photo: Getty Images, Carl Court. All rights reserved.
The BBC has shared a previously unpublished 2003 interview with English graffiti artist Banksy, which may confirm his real name. The exclusive excerpt was featured in a bonus episode of The Banksy Story podcast titled “The Lost Banksy Interview.”
Listen to the interview here:
Is Banksy called “Robbie Banks”?
The Bristol-born artist has kept his persona secret since the 1990s and has created numerous street art pieces that are characterized by satire and political statements. In the excerpt, former BBC correspondent Nigel Wrench asks Banksy: “Are you okay with me using your name? I mean, The Independent did that.” Banksy agrees. “Is it Robert Banks?” asks Wrench. “It’s Robbie,” Banksy then replies.
This appears to be the first recorded instance of Banksy confirming his identity. However, “The Banksy Story” host James Peak himself shares concerns about whether the name reveal is legitimate, given the artist’s history of deceptive pranks and the possibility that “Robbie Banks” could be a pun.
Or is Banksy the singer of Massive Attack?
In 2017, new rumors emerged surrounding the street artist’s identity and it was suggested that Robert Del Naja, member of the band Massive Attack, could be Banksy. The discussions intensified as various media reports and social networks pointed out parallels between Banksy’s artwork and Del Naja’s Massive Attack tour schedule. Some supporters of the theory claim that the overlap between Banksy’s actions and Massive Attack’s tour dates is more than coincidental.
Neither Banksy nor Robert Del Naja have yet officially commented on these claims. In any case, the first name is identical to that mentioned in the BBC’s previously “lost interview”.
