Irish band Murder Capital have second German gig cancelled over Palestinian flag on stage

Sunday World

13-05-2025

"The Palestinian flag itself needs to be on our stage, needs to be as visible everywhere in the world as possible'
The Irish band The Murder Capital performed an acoustic set at Rheinpark in Cologne after a second German gig was cancelled over the band displaying the Palestinian flag on stage.
The Dublin-based post-punk band was scheduled to play at the Berlin club Gretchen on Saturday, May 10, and Gebäude 9 in Cologne on Sunday, May 11, but both gigs were cancelled.
The band said they had hoped 'what had happened in Berlin' when a gig in the German city was also cancelled over the flag 'would be an isolated incident'.
"But tonight's venue, Gebäude 9, has also told us that we cannot have the Palestinian flag on our stage,' front man James McGovern said in another video posted to social media.
'We've tried everything we can to find another venue for tonight's show, but it's been impossible.
"So we'll be putting on an acoustic show outdoors in a park somewhere this evening.'
McGovern continued: "The Palestinian flag itself needs to be on our stage, needs to be as visible everywhere in the world as possible.
"These people are being eradicated, being starved, being bombed, and these war crimes and this genocide is 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 is happening right now, today.
"We stand forever with the people of Palestine. Free the people of Palestine. Love from us."
The band later announced the unscheduled park performance on social media, saying "everyone welcome' and urging fans to 'bring acoustic guitars'.
The Murder Capital
News in 90 Seconds - May 13th
The band later shared a clip of them performing their song "Words Lost Meaning."
"Free Palestine," the group said in their post alongside the clip.
In an video posted to the band's social media accounts on Saturday, McGovern - holding a Palestinian flag - explained what happened in Berlin, "from the band's point of view."
McGovern said: 'We pulled into Berlin this morning, we had no idea that we weren't allowed to fly this [Palestinian] flag here today. We found out early this afternoon.
"This is from the band's point of view.
'We discussed it for an hour at length, what we should do. We came to the decision that we were not going to take the flag off the stage, that was a decision pretty easily made, but we discussed possible outcomes – what if they decide to cancel the show? We thought about all of you deeply, because we care about you deeply, and I mean that.
"And our decision was that we're gonna put the flag on stage.'
McGovern said the band discussed whether to switch the Palestinian flag for a banner that said "Free Palestine," but said the venue "wouldn't allow us to do that either."
"So it's not just about national flags, it's about political statements," he continued.
'And to us, this isn't just a political statement, it's a humanitarian statement. We've been saying that in interviews for the whole time that we've been speaking about it as people.
"It's not all about politics; it's about people who are dying and being slaughtered every day, and that's happening right now.
'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."
McGovern continued: '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.
"We'll be back to you as soon as we can. We appreciate all your support deeply, but most importantly, free Palestine.'
The Berlin club said in a social media post that they were "very sorry" that The Murder Capital's show did not take place, but said it has had a "no national flag" policy in place for "many years."
The Murder Capital has shows scheduled in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France this week and will play their biggest headline gig to date at Dublin's Iveagh Gardens on July 19.
In September and October, The Murder Capital is set to play more than a dozen shows between the US and Canada.
It comes as several shows have been cancelled in Germany over Irish artists' public support for Palestine.
Several gigs by Belfast rappers Kneecap were pulled due to their vocal support of Palestine and an investigation by the counter-terrorism police in the UK over on-stage comments that 'the only good Tory is a dead Tory'.
Their headline shows in Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg in September, as well as performances at the Hurricane and Southside festivals in Germany, were cancelled.
Irish folk group Lankum had a gig in Leipzig cancelled in November 2023 due to the band's support for Palestine.
In April, an Irish citizen was reportedly arrested in Berlin during a pro-Palestinian protest in front of the Irish embassy for leading chants in the Irish language at a demonstration.
In the same month, two Irish protesters were facing deportation from Germany after taking part in pro-Palestinian protests.
Shane O'Brien (29) and Roberta Murray (31), Irish citizens, were among four, including a Polish and a US citizen, facing deportation.