Glaswegian indie-rockers Primal Scream are the latest act to face backlash from pro-Israel pressure groups after their Roundhouse performance on Monday marking the 25th anniversary of their XTRMNTR album.
The Community Security Trust, an organisation that monitors antisemitism, confirmed it had complained to the Metropolitan Police after footage circulated online showing a modified Star of David with a swastika at its centre. However, today a statement on Primal Scream’s Instagram said: “The film is a piece of art. It clearly draws from history to question where the actions of current world governments sit in that context. It is meant to provoke debate, not hate.”
During the song Swastika Eyes, the modified images were projected to replace the eyes of world leaders such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump and Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei. The band also showed images of the destruction in Gaza, ending with the words ‘our government is complicit in genocide’ projected on the screen.
The show, part of a series revisiting the group’s politically charged 2000 record, was hailed by fans but quickly drew condemnation from organisations including Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), the US-based group that claimed responsibility for playing a key role in revoking Kneecap’s U.S. visa following their performance at Coachella 2024. Known for its behind-the-scenes lobbying in the music and film industries, CCFP executive director Ari Ingel told The Jerusalem Post: “CCFP’s covert actions successfully led to Kneecap’s US visa cancellation following their Coachella appearance, and their actions further led to Kneecap’s agency and Bob Vylan’s management severing ties.” The visa revocation also followed public calls from Sharon Osbourne, who demanded U.S. authorities act on what she described as the group’s offensive messaging during their performance.
Meanwhile, Bob Vylan is suing Irish broadcaster RTÉ for defamation after it reported that the band’s frontman led “antisemitic chants” at Glastonbury 2025. The duo strongly deny the claim, arguing that their chant of “Death to the IDF” was a political statement against military violence, not an attack on Jewish people. Their legal team, Phoenix Law, filed High Court proceedings in Dublin on behalf of Pascal Robinson-Foster and Wade Laurence George, citing serious reputational and emotional damage. Despite formal requests, RTÉ has not retracted or amended the report.
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Words by Phil Ross. More writing by Phil can be found at his Louder Than War author’s archive.
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