Huge band demand removal of 'unethical' adverts at venue before gig

Massive Attack - which consists of bandmates Robert '3D' Del Naja and Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall - criticised Barclays in a statement ahead of a gig at Co-op Live in Manchester

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Massive Attack have criticised Barclays and shared their views, claiming it is an "unethical corporate identity" ahead of a gig at a venue sponsored by the company this week. The band were set to take to the stage at Co-op Live in Manchester before they made the statement.

It follows the news of a partnership between the indoor arena and Barclays last month. Two weeks ago, it was announced that the bank has become a "founding partner" of Co-op Live, which opened in the city last year.

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Massive Attack - comprised of Robert '3D' Del Naja and Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall - hit out over the partnership in a statement shared on Instagram just hours before their concert at the venue last night. They referenced both fossil fuel extraction and Palestine, and accused Barclays of being a "profoundly unethical corporate identity".

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The band, known for songs such as Unfinished Sympathy and Teardrop, said that the gig would still go ahead, though. They told fans that organisers had agreed to remove Barclays promotional material from the arena for it.

In their statement shared with their 401,000 followers, the band wrote: "We're so happy to be back in Manchester, and to be playing in this city tonight. We confirmed this show at Co Op Live arena back in January, not least because of the venue's strong sustainability credentials and ethical sponsorship."

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They continued by writing: "15 days ago, without any advance warning or notification, the arena ownership announced a new corporate sponsorship with Barclays: a commercial identity synonymous with the large-scale financing of new fossil fuel extraction, and billions of dollars of investments in arms companies that supply Israel in its genocidal onslaught of Gaza, and war crimes in the West Bank.

"Objectively, Barclays is a profoundly unethical corporate identity. We believe Barclays has no place in any of our cultural or sporting arenas and only learned (with disbelief) of the arena partnership via a local media story."

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Massive Attack added: "As a band, we do not want to disappoint fans who have spent their hard-earned money on tickets and are looking forward to the show, especially at such short notice. Co Op Live ownership have agreed to our insistence that all physical and digital Barclays livery and logos be completely removed from both the arena itself and our show page on the arena website, and that no show tickets - for sale or complimentary - will be given to Barclays."

The band's statement concluded: "At a time when the world works to tackle climate emergency, and watches on in despair and horror at the scenes of civilian slaughter in Gaza, we're stunned that the arena ownership took this decision to partner with Barclays - especially in a progressive city like Manchester - and then attempted to retroactively apply that sponsorship to artists who would have been deeply uneasy, or refused to align their performances with a venue with Barclays as partner. See you tonight, Manchester. In love and rage, Massive Attack."

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Shortly after releasing their statement, Massive Attack shared posts promoting the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is an initiative to "accelerate a transition to renewable energy". It included posting a photo of themselves as part of a group holding up a sign for it whilst in Manchester.

Among the group of five was Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. The band wrote in the caption of the photo: "Proud to be part of this story: endorsing the [initiative] with Mayor of Greater Manchester [Andy]."

Co-Op Live previously said it had a "shared mission" with Massive Attack to "lead the future of sustainable live entertainment". On a page for the gig, it said it would commit to a "fully plant-based" menu for the show in alignment with the band's "longstanding dedication to environmental action".

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