The Murder Capital’s two German shows over the weekend were cancelled by the venues they were due to take place in because of the band’s insistence of displaying a flag of Palestine as part of their backdrop on stage.
Club Gretchen in Berlin cancelled the band’s scheduled concert on the day of the event, with the band appearing outside the venue and explaining the situation, saying they discussed it as a band and considered showing a banner that just said “Free Palestine” instead of the flag itself, but that was also not allowed by the venue.
“This isn’t just a political statement, it’s a humanitarian statement,” singer James McGovern said to the assembled crowd after saying they had no idea that it would be an issue when they arrived in Berlin on Saturday morning.
“It’s not all about politics, it’s about people who are dying and being slaughtered every day, and that’s happening right now,” McGovern says in the clip.
“So, for us as a band who has had this flag on their stage for countless shows now, it would be the wrong thing for us to do to take it off the stage just so that the venue is kept happy. We don’t agree with that.
“We wish live music and art and theatre could be free of political discussion and things like that, but as the world as it is, unfortunately it just cannot be. That’s the way it is so we’ll be back to you as soon as we can and we appreciate all your support deeply, but most importantly, free Palestine.”
The band then went on to play an acoustic set outside.
The Murder Capital’s Sunday show was also cancelled
On Sunday night, the band’s planned gig at Gebaude 9 in Cologne, was also cancelled for the same reason, with McGovern posting a message on Instagram, saying “These people are being eradicated, being starved, being bombed, and these war crimes are being committed by the Israeli state, and funded and supported by governments around the world.”
“Us having a flag on our stage at a rock show is not a political statement, it is a human reaction to a horrific and unimaginable situation. But this is not history, it’s happening right now, today. We stand forever with the people of Palestine. Free the people of Palestine. Love from us.”
The Murder Capital performed outdoors at Rheinpark in Cologne instead.
Scary times for solidarity in Germany
German authorities have adopted a policy of equating support for the people of Palestine with antisemitism / support for Hamas, and has strict laws against hate speech and antisemitism.
Germany ordered two Irish citizens to leave the country for attending a pro-Palestine march this year. The case of Berlin-based Irish activist Shane O’Brien is due to be heard at a later date after an emergency ruling by Berlin’s state administrative court allowed O’Brien to stay for now.
Kneecap’s scheduled shows in Germany were recently cancelled after their Coachella solidarity messages.
In November 2023, Lankum also had shows pulled in Leipzig, Germany due to their pro-Palestine stance.
German cultural institutions had been threatened with funding cuts if they allowed pro-Palestine artists to perform or display work in their venues.
DJs JYOTY and Manuka Honey withdrew from Berlin’s electronic CTM Festival in early 2024 in support of Strike Germany.
The Strike Germany movement was launched in response to Germany’s anti-discrimination clause, which required those applying for arts grants to commit to IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism. The clause was scrapped after the arts world responded.
The Murder Capital have no more scheduled shows in Germany on their tour, which moves to Brussels on Tuesday May 13th.
The band’s remaining dates are:
May 13, 2025 – Brussels, Ancienne Belgique
May 14, 2025 – Nijmegen, Doornroosje
May 15,2025 – Amsterdam, Melkweg- MAX
May 17, 2025 – Paris, Le Trianon
The Murder Capital play the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin this July.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
