Massive Attack have issued a statement following their Singapore concert on 29 July, claiming that the entire touring party was detained and questioned by police after the show.
In the statement, the British trip-hop group said its members were isolated and questioned separately following their performance at The Star Theatre. The band also alleged that some members had their hotel rooms searched and passports temporarily confiscated.
The account adds new details to the controversy, which began after Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall displayed a Palestinian flag near the end of the concert.
Massive Attack also addressed reports that the band had led the audience in chanting “Free Palestine”.
According to the group, large sections of the audience spontaneously began the chant before the band took the stage and again at the end of the show. The statement described the crowd’s response as an “organic” expression of solidarity rather than one directed by the performers.
The band said it had not expected holding up the Palestinian flag to breach local laws, describing Palestine as “a sovereign state recognised by 157 countries”.
The Singapore Police Force and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) previously announced that two unnamed members had been issued stern warnings for offences under the Foreign National Emblems (Control of Display) Act and the Public Order Act.
The two musicians were also barred from re-entering Singapore. In view of the entry ban, IMDA said it would not approve future applications for Massive Attack to perform in the country.
IMDA is separately investigating possible breaches of the concert’s licence conditions, including a condition prohibiting the display of flags in support of causes.
In their response, Massive Attack said they were “proud” to have shared the moment with their Singaporean audience, whom they praised for showing solidarity with Palestinians despite the potential consequences.
The group also criticised the wider international response to the war in Gaza and described the experience in Singapore as a reminder of the need to defend human rights and freedom of expression.
Massive Attack called on the Singapore government to ratify the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and allow citizens to express their conscience “without fear of state prosecution”.
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Despite their criticism of the authorities’ actions, the band thanked concertgoers for making them feel welcome during their visit.
They closed the statement with: “As we were saying … Free Palestine.”
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