Knife Party break silence on Phoenix Pk stabbings

Rob Swire, of the electronic dance duo Knife Party, has broken his silence on the issues arising from the stabbings that took place at the Swedish House Mafia gigs in Phoenix Park and Milton Keynes recently.

Swire's Knife Party outfit collaborated with the stars of both shows, Swedish House Mafia, on the latter's biggest track to date, 'Antidote' – a track that was credited to Swedish House Mafia vs Knife Party – and which effectively launched the Knife Party 'brand' to international prominence.

The video for the track has been viewed 8,252,389 times on YouTube (and rising) – a reflection of its vaulting success. It went to No.4 in the UK singles charts and was No.3 in the Billboard Hot Dance Songs in the US.

Almost inevitably, links were subsequently made between the band's association with Swedish House Mafia and the stabbings. However, when Hot Press first contacted representatives for Swire, we were told that he would be unavailable for comment as the group doesn't do interviews.

On the basis that there is a major issue of public safety being debated in Ireland as a result of the stabbings, Hot Press decided to send a series of questions through to the musician – best known to date for his work with the highly respected Australian outfit Pendulum, who had a No.2 hit in the UK with their second album In Silico – both via his Facebook page and through his management.

The following day, we received an email back from a representative confirming that we would have a response to the questions after the weekend.

For a plethora of reasons, this is a difficult issue. "What's in a name?," Shakespeare once asked. It's a question which raises issues of potential negative influence on the one hand and artistic censorship on the other.

But that there is a genuine issue can hardly be dismissed: for millions of dance fans, Swedish House Mafia are very strongly associated with the name and presumably the idea 'knife party'. So were the stabbings just a horrible coincidence, or is there a connection? And if there is one, is that enough reason for a group to consider the appropriateness of the handle they have chosen – or are they better to carry on regardless, putting any violence down to the propensity of individuals? The questions covered these weighty matters in different ways.

The response, which arrived yesterday, came from Robert Horsfall, a lawyer representing Knife Party. As this indicates, the issue is understandably being seen by the band as a highly sensitive one.

We were asked if we would print the responses verbatim and in the sequence in which the questions had been asked – with the stricture that this was the only basis on which we could publish the response. As it happens, this is a perfectly reasonable request, to which we were very happy to agree.

Not all of the questions were answered – we have reprised the ones which were not included in the response below.

Our questions are in bold text and Robert Swire's answers follow in full.

Where did the name Knife Party originate from?

"Knife Party" was the title of a song by The Deftones, one of our favourite bands when we were growing up. As I understand it, it refers to a metaphorical "Mexican standoff" / argument between two people.

When deciding on this name for this aspect of your music, did the issue that it might potentially act as a trigger to incite violence ever occur to you?

Knife Party is just a name, and names alone do not incite violence. As it happens, we're against any and all forms of physical violence, including knife-related crime.

What identity are you seeking to project with the name Knife Party?

We started this project with the aim of making heavy, energetic, emotionally charged dance music, therefore the name is a metaphor. Similarly, Swedish House Mafia have nothing to do with the actual mafia, Daft Punk are not actually punks, The Killers are not homicidal and Guns n' Roses do not endorse firearms.

Can you give an insight into the thinking behind the colour scheme and the logo that seems to depict a head with a knife through it?

Our logo was designed by @protski on Twitter, with the aim of creating an icon that conveyed "Knife Party" in its own right, without text being necessary. It was meant to be visually similar to the fake knife headbands that kids often wear at Halloween (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001C0YUOO)

Does it worry you at all that this might have triggered the stabbings at the Swedish House Mafia gigs - and that this potentially might continue at gigs where Knife Party play(s)?

Your insinuation that the name of a one-time collaborator (us) somehow randomly triggered violence at an unrelated Swedish House Mafia concert is ridiculous. It's extremely unfortunate and sad that this happened at a dance music event - dance crowds are some of the most hospitable and friendly people you'll find at any shows.

What is your view generally about the role that music, musicians or band names can have in influencing people?

To my knowledge, there isn't any proven evidence to suggest that music, musicians, band names, video games, movies et. al have any role in influencing people to that extent. In the 1950's, lots of people blamed comic books for kids' bad behaviour - parents love scapegoats, and journalists love easy stories that cause public outrage.

Rob Swire

Below are the questions which were put to Rob but not answered directly – though it might be said that some or all of the areas were covered in the course of the answers above.

– Do you support or condone the use of knives as weapons? Or is it something that you would condemn?

– Would you or do you carry a knife for personal protection or to use, if a confrontation arises?

– Would you see it as censorship if there was a suggestion that the name Knife Party should be changed, to prevent any possibility of further acts of violence?

– What would you say to fans who assume that you would support the use of knives as a way of settling differences or even as a matter of fun?

– No one has been convicted yet, but would you have any message for the individuals, whoever they are, who carried out the stabbings in Dublin and in Milton Keynes?

– Would you give serious consideration to changing the name of this incarnation of your music, if there was a consensus that it had influenced in any way the kind of actions that took place at the SHM gigs in Dublin and Milton Keynes?