Johnny Marr expresses support for KNEECAP amid Glastonbury ban calls

The Smiths’ legend Johnny Marr has expressed his support for KNEECAP following calls for their Glastonbury performance to be censored.

KNEECAP’S Glastonbury controversy follows footage from the past gigs coming to light after the trio’s Coachella performance, where they unveiled messages saying: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people" and "Fuck Israel, Free Palestine."

Trio founder Mo Chara, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged by the Metropolitan Police with a terror offence, and numerous live shows cancelled.

He is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court this Wednesday,  June 18. The charge relates to two on-stage incidents from shows in London in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

KNEECAP have vehemently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah, and said that they do not condone violence, and have also condemned the terror charge, calling it a “carnival of distraction".

Yesterday evening, Marr took to X to express his support for the group in a statement which read: “After learning that calls have been made for KNEECAP to be censored during their Glastonbury set, I think it’s important that I make my own position clear” he wrote. “I’ve played Glastonbury many times and the festival has always had a political aspect”.

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— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) June 16, 2025

“It was founded as a place of free expression and political activism and it’s a fact that I agreed to play there with The Smiths in 1984 purely because to do so at the time was a political act. We are living through very troubling times, but for anyone who’s been interested in me or my music over the last 40 years, I feel like my political stance has always been very clear”.

Marr concluded by expressing his support for Palestine: “Oppression fears artistic expression. I respect all musicians who use their platform to speak out against injustice, who promote compassion and equality and give voice to the voiceless. I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine”.

Other artists have previously expressed their support for KNEECAP, including Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten, Pulp, Brian Eno, Massive Attack, CMAT and more.,

The trio also received public backing from anti-racism campaigners Love Music Hate Racism, after a "private and confidential" letter was sent to the bookers of Glastonbury Festival urging them to drop the trio from its 2025 lineup.

Last week, the trio unveiled the legal team which will represent Óg Ó hAnnaidh at the Westminster court this week, which includes Gareth Peirce, who was the solicitor for Gerry Conlon and the Guildford Four and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against US extradition, and Rosalind Comyn, who represented Extinction Rebellion protesters in court.

His legal team also includes Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Brenda Campbell KC, Jude Bunting KC and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC.