Before a performance at Co-op Live in Manchester, Massive Attack, which consists of bandmates Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall, criticised Barclays in a statement.
Massive Attack have criticised Barclays and shared their views, claiming it is an “unethical corporate identity” ahead of a gig at a venue sponsored by the company this week. The band were set to take to the stage at Co-op Live in Manchester before they made the statement.
It follows the news of a partnership between the indoor arena and Barclays last month. Two weeks ago, it was announced that the bank has become a “founding partner” of Co-op Live, which opened in the city last year.
Massive Attack – comprised of Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja and Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall – hit out over the partnership in a statement shared on Instagram just hours before their concert at the venue last night. They referenced both fossil fuel extraction and Palestine, and accused Barclays of being a “profoundly unethical corporate identity”.
The band, which is renowned for songs like Teardrop and Unfinished Sympathy, however, stated that the performance would continue. They informed the audience that the organizers had agreed to take away Barclays advertising material from the arena in exchange for it.
The band stated in a statement shared with their 401, 000 followers, “We’re so happy to be back in Manchester, and we’re playing in this city tonight. We confirmed this performance at Co Op Live Arena in January, not least because of the venue’s strong commitment to sustainability and its ethical sponsorship.
They continued by writing: “15 days ago, without any advance warning or notification, the arena ownership announced a new corporate sponsorship with Barclays: a commercial identity synonymous with the large-scale financing of new fossil fuel extraction, and billions of dollars of investments in arms companies that supply Israel in its genocidal onslaught of Gaza, and war crimes in the West Bank.
Objectively speaking, Barclays is a deeply unethical corporate identity. We think Barclays should not be involved in any of our cultural or sporting arenas, but rather, we have been taught (with disbelief) about the partnership through a local media story.
Massive Attack continued, “We do not want to disappoint fans who have purchased their hard-earned money in tickets and are anticipating the show, especially on such a short notice. Owners of Co Op Live have consented to us requiring that all Barclays livery and logos, both physically and digital, be completely removed from both the arena and our show page on the arena website. No show tickets will be offered to Barclays, either for sale or for free.
The band’s statement concluded: “At a time when the world works to tackle climate emergency, and watches on in despair and horror at the scenes of civilian slaughter in Gaza, we’re stunned that the arena ownership took this decision to partner with Barclays – especially in a progressive city like Manchester – and then attempted to retroactively apply that sponsorship to artists who would have been deeply uneasy, or refused to align their performances with a venue with Barclays as partner. See you tonight, Manchester. In love and rage, Massive Attack.”
Massive Attack shared posts promoting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, an initiative to “accelerate a transition to renewable energy,” shortly after posting their statement. In addition to posting a photo of themselves holding up a sign for it while they were in Manchester, they also posted a photo of themselves.
Among the group of five was Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The band wrote in the caption of the photo: “Proud to be part of this story: endorsing the [initiative] with Mayor of Greater Manchester [Andy].”
Co-Op Live previously stated that it was “leading the future of sustainable live entertainment with Massive Attack.” It stated on a page for the show that it would commit to having a “fully plant-based” menu for the show in keeping with the band’s long-standing commitment to environmental activism.
Source: Mirror
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