Primal Scream Faces Backlash Over Controversial Video at London Gig
During a 25th anniversary XTRMNTR show at London's Roundhouse, Primal Scream projected a video featuring a swastika inside a Star of David behind the band during their performance of 'Swastika Eyes.' The image was centered over the eyes of political figures Netanyahu and Trump. The video also displayed scenes of destruction in Gaza and concluded with the message, 'Our government is complicit in genocide.'
The Roundhouse stated it was appalled by the video and had no prior knowledge of its content. In response to concerns, the Community Security Trust (CST) reported the incident to police. Primal Scream defended the video in an Instagram statement, describing the film as a piece of art that draws on historical imagery to question world governments' actions. They noted the intent was to provoke debate rather than promote hate, affirming their support for freedom of expression.
However, some attendees accused the band of racism, prompting the Roundhouse to apologize to those individuals and to the wider Jewish community. The CST cautioned that combining the Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and warned the image could incite hatred. They called for an urgent investigation by the venue and promoter and confirmed they had reported the matter to police.
Additionally, the Creative Community for Peace condemned the display as an act of malice and desecration, emphasizing that the Star of David is a sacred symbol and the swastika represents genocide.
