Irish Band Guitarist Says ‘Free Palestine, F—k Zionism’ on Stage at Rolling Stone UK Awards
Carlos O’Connell of the group Fontaines DC during the Romance European Tour 2024, 25 June 2024, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, Italy. Photo: Emanuela Vertolli/SportReporter/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
The guitarist of the Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zionism, and voiced support for a “Free Palestine,” when receiving the award for Best Album at the 2024 Rolling Stone UK Awards on Saturday.
“What a night,” Carlos O’Connell began by saying at London’s Roundhouse, upon accepting the award on behalf of his band for their latest album “Romance.”
“I don’t know, I just think there’s only a couple of words to say here,” O’Connell continued. He then added, “It’s kind of weird that this is the first time it’s been said all night, but I’m just gonna say it: Free Palestine. Free Palestine. Free Palestine. F—k Netanyahu. F—K Zionism. Free Palestine.”
O’Connell’s remarks garnered applause from some in the audience.
In May, O’Connell participated in a “Voices For Gaza” initiative in which several musicians read out letters written by Palestinians suffering in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The project also helped raise funds for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
The five-part band Fontaines DC includes lead singer Grian Chatten, guitarist Conor Curley, bassist Conor Deegan III, and drummer Tom Coll. In August, the Dublin band cancelled a concert in Istanbul, Turkey, in solidarity with the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. They said in a statement at the time that they refuse to perform at the Zorlu Performing Arts Center, which part owns a plant that reportedly supplies five to eight percent of Israel’s energy, until the concert hall “fully divests from the supply of energy” to Israel.
“We were really looking forward to visiting and playing beautiful Istanbul; however in this instance, we must be clear in our convictions and put solidarity with the people of Palestine first,” the statement further read. It also accused Israel of committing a “genocide.”
Fontaines DC has also previously called for a ceasefire to end the ongoing Israel-Hamas war “in solidarity with the Palestinian people living under a brutal military operation.” Over the summer, the band won a viral music quiz on TikTok and donated the cash prize of $2,560 to Doctors Without Borders “for Palestine.”
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