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Paul Lester

ByPaul Lester, Paul Lester

Analysis

No point fretting - some of the best acts had awful opinions

August 12, 2010 11:35
1 min read

Massive Attack's Big Chill gig is not the first example of musicians taking a stand against Israel.

In June this year, venerable songwriter Elvis Costello cancelled two concerts that he was scheduled to play in Israel in protest at what he saw as Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians. "It is," he said, "a matter of instinct and conscience."

Bobby Gillespie of acclaimed electro-rockers Primal Scream once allegedly defaced a "Make Poverty History" poster so that it read "Make Israel History".

There are some who might react by boycotting these musicians, removing their records from their collections and determining never to attend their concerts again. But would they not be denying themselves great works of artistry by doing so? And besides, does not close scrutiny of the individuals whose art we consume tend to reveal human beings so flawed we would never choose them as friends, let alone elevate them to the status of idols?