Speed are one of several bands to announce that they will no longer be performing at the UK’s Download Festival, which is set to begin this week from Wednesday June 12th through to Sunday June 16th. The decision has been made due to the festival’s sponsorship ties with Barclays Bank, whose assets are tied to arms companies that sell weaponry to the Israeli Defence Force.
“SPEED will no longer be playing Download Festival this Friday June 14, due to the recent news of Barclays Banks sponsorship of the event and their involvement in the war in Gaza,” the band shared on their social media accounts. Other acts that have pulled out of the festival include Scowl, Zulu and Pest Control – the lattermost of which is credited with being the first band to join the boycott movement for the festival.
SPEED – ‘Real Life Love’
The targeted boycott of Download is part of a wider plan by the UK-based action group Bands Boycott Barclays. Supported by the BDS movement, the group is described as “musicians and music industry professionals who are using [their] cultural power to stand in solidarity with Palestine.” The group recently targeted The Great Escape festival, which saw over 180 acts pull out, and are also targeting Isle Of Wight, Camp Bestival and Latitude.
Speed recently wrapped a North American tour with Knocked Loose, and are about to begin a UK and Europe tour that will now start this Saturday in Leeds. The band will return to Australia in August for a headlining theatre tour.
Download Festival will take place at Donnington Park this week. Headlining acts include Queens Of The Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, The Used, Machine Head, Pantera, Fear Factory, Billy Talent and Royal Blood.
Further Reading
Download Festival – Parramatta Park, Sydney 09/03/19
