Scots rock band Primal Scream have come under fire after being accused of showing antisemitic images at London gig.
Rock band Primal Scream have been accused of using “grossly antisemitic” imagery at a concert in London. The Community Security Trust (CST) said it has reported the Scottish group to police after a video shown onstage on Monday appeared to depict the Star of David intertwined with a swastika.
The graphic was displayed as a backdrop while the band performed their 2000 track Swastika Eyes, which was wrote in 1999 about American foreign policy, at a one-off show at the Roundhouse in Camden, prompting immediate concern from attendees and online viewers.
The CST, which provides security and support for Jewish communities across the UK, said it was “appalled” by the imagery and urged the venue to launch an “urgent investigation” into how it was approved and displayed.
In a statement released to the Press Association, a spokesperson stated: “Entwining a Star of David with a swastika implies that Jews are Nazis and risks encouraging hatred of Jews.
“There needs to be an urgent investigation by the venue and the promoter about how this happened and we have reported this to the police.”
The band, formed in 1982 by frontman Bobby Gillespie, has been a fixture of the British rock scene for more than four decades. Alongside Gillespie, the current lineup includes guitarist and keyboardist Andrew Innes, bassist Simone Butler, and drummer Darrin Mooney.
They were performing a 25th anniversary show in London to mark the release of their influential 2000 album XTRMNTR, a record known for its politically charged themes and abrasive sonic style.
During the performance of Swastika Eyes, images of several political figures including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump and Keir Starmer, were projected onto a screen behind the band.
The visuals appeared to depict the Star of David combined with a swastika – the emblem of the Nazi regime, which murdered six million Jewish people during the Holocaust – placed over the eyes of the individuals shown.
In addition to these images, footage portraying destruction in Gaza was also displayed. The sequence ended with the words “Our Government is complicit in genocide” projected across the screen.
A spokesperson for the Roundhouse told the Daily Mail it was investigating the incident.
The statement said: “We have been made aware of alleged use of content that was screened during a performance by Primal Scream at the Roundhouse on Monday 8 December.
“We are investigating this matter but have not as yet been able to substantiate the claim. We take any instance of antisemitism extremely seriously. Any acts of hatred, discrimination or prejudice are entirely unacceptable and have no place in our community or spaces.”
Primal Scream was contacted for comment by the Press Association, and the band has yet to make any comments regarding the graphics online.
