My Bloody Valentine are playing shows again. The shoegaze legends gave their first performance in seven years at a surprise Dublin warm-up gig last week, and now their UK tour is underway. While MBV aren’t always the most outspoken band, they’ve used the occasion to make a clear statement in support of the people of Palestine.
In September, hundreds of artists and labels launched the “No Music For Genocide” campaign, geo-blocking their music from streaming services in Israel during that country’s sustained campaign of genocide and Palestine, which continues even after the supposed ceasefire in Gaza. Massive Attack, Rina Sawayama, and Fontaines D.C. were among the first artists to sign on, and the campaign grew to include Hayley Williams, Paramore, Clairo, Lorde, Björk, Lucy Dacus, and MJ Lenderman, among many others.
Now, My Bloody Valentine have joined the “No Music For Genocide” campaign. Other artists who have signed on include Denzel Curry, Saba, Shygirl, Paris Paloma, Innervisions, YHWH Nailgun, and Vacations. Also, Massive Attack and Paul Weller have received major-label approval to geo-block their music.
On Monday night, My Bloody Valentine played at the Warehouse in Manchester’s Aviva Studios. During a moment of technical difficulties, their often-reclusive frontman Kevin Shields told the crowd, “Free Palestine. Between this American, UK, and Israeli thing, they’re not going to stop unless you make them, you know? They’re not going to listen to reason.”
Meanwhile, My Bloody Valentine’s classic albums Loveless and Isn’t Anything are not currently on US streaming services, and nobody seems to know why.
