Primal Scream defend image of swastika inside Star of David shown during London gig | London
Scottish rock band Primal Scream has defended the display of an image of a swastika within the Star of David during a concert in London in response to accusations of racism and antisemitism.
During a performance at the Roundhouse in London, a video of the swastika in the middle of the Star of David was shown on stage, which was then superimposed over images of political figures, including Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US president Donald Trump.
The film was projected behind the band performing the song Swastika Eyes.
Images of the destruction in Gaza were also reflected on the screen. The video ended with the words: “Our government is complicit in genocide.”
Roundhouse said he was horrified by the video, which he said was made without his knowledge. The incident was also reported to the police by the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides security, advice and training to protect British Jews.
Primal Scream defended the video in a post on its Instagram account on Friday, saying: “The film is a work of art. It clearly takes from history where the actions of current world governments stand in this context.”
He added: “This is intended to incite debate, not hatred. In a free, pluralistic and liberal society, freedom of expression is a right we choose to exercise.”
Some people attending the concert He accused Primal Scream of racism. The Roundhouse issued a firm apology to these individuals and the wider Jewish community.
Primal Scream, founded in 1982 by frontman Bobby Gillespie, were performing their 25th anniversary show for their album XTRMNTR.
A CST spokesman said: “Wrapping the Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks promoting hatred against Jews.
“There needs to be an urgent investigation by the venue and promoter into how this happened and we have reported it to the police.”
Creative Community for PeaceThe pro-Israel advocacy group, which campaigns against antisemitism in the entertainment industry, described the show as “an act of profound evil, disrespect and cruelty”.
The statement said: “The Star of David is a sacred symbol of Jewish identity; the swastika is the emblem of the genocidal regime responsible for the murder of six million Jews. Combining these two symbols is a profound act of evil, disrespect and cruelty. This is antisemitism in its strictest form.”
