John Lydon addressed the controversy surrounding Kneecap during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, describing the Belfast trio as “my enemy from here on in for the rest of your mediocre existence.”
Kneecap have been in the crossfires since their performance at Coachella in April, which saw the band calling for a free Palestine during their set. Since then many public figures have spoken out on both sides of the debate, with Massive Attack issuing a statement in support of the musicians, saying “Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story.”
The U.K. government has also taken aim at the band and counter-terrorism police have begun investigated footage of old performances, including a clip that appears to show the band calling for death of British politicians. The band issued an apology for the footage, which also allegedly showed them voicing support for Hamas and Hezbollah, saying they “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual.”
The controversy was brought up during Lydon’s appearance on Good Morning Britain as the presenter noted that they’ve been compared in the Financial Times to his former band the Sex Pistols.
The singer responded, “If you’re advocating the death of another human being, then you have no cause whatsoever. You are my enemy from here on in for the rest of your mediocre existence. You shouldn’t be talking like that, you shouldn’t be making enemies of your fellow human beings. Other than that, maybe they need a bloody good kneecapping!”
Lydon also suggested that Kneecap may be taking cues from the Sex Pistols’ playbook. “I think they’re following what they think is the Sex Pistols route,” he said. “It’s helpful, isn’t it, when you get the Financial Times propping you up. In a weird way, with the Sex Pistols, we were celebrated in money business papers and publications. They thought they were humiliating us, but now that’s become a format.”
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During their performance at Coachella, Kneecap flashed projections that read, “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” and, “It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.” A final screen read, “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine.” The band claimed a similar message shown onstage during weekend one was cut from the Coachella livestream.
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After the festival, band member Mo Chara explained to Rolling Stone that Kneecap have spoken about Palestine “at every single gig since the band’s formation, long before October 2023 as the oppression and brutal occupation of Palestine has been ongoing for 77 years.”
“We believe we have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine, and it was important for us to speak out at Coachella as the USA is the main funder and supplier of weapons to Israel as they commit genocide in Gaza,” he said. “As I said from the stage, ‘The U.S. government could stop the genocide tomorrow.’ It’s important that young Americans hear and know it.”
