Garbage back Kehlani, Kneecap & other pro-Palestine artists, drop new feminist protest song

Garbage‘s anticipated new album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light arrives later this month, and after sharing the first single, “There’s No Future in Optimism,” in April, they’ve given us a second preview with “Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty.” It’s an unabashedly feminist protest anthem, and Shirley Manson says, “When I was young, I didn’t really notice how things worked. People like to shuffle older women off the lot, because you start to see the chessboard in a way you didn’t when you were younger. When you’re young, you’re wanting to get on with your life, have an adventure, do what you love, and you’re conditioned by the society that you grew up in, so a lot of the time you don’t see what’s going on. Then, as you get older, you start to see how things are stacked up against some of us – not all of us.”

“I am outraged by the way the world treats blacks and browns and gays and trans peoples and animals and women,” Manson continues. “Living in America over the last couple of years, the absolute war on women in America is astounding. All the rights that we felt had been secured are starting to get pushed back into the Middle Ages. It is something that I can no longer tolerate silently. It’s not just infuriating, it’s alarming. It’s frightening.”

The band have also spoken out about Gaza, most recently resharing a post from Macklemore on Instagram and emphasizing their support for artists like Kneecap, Kehlani, Roger Waters, and Massive Attack who have also been outspoken about the genocide. “Standing with @officialannielennox @palomafaith @rogerwaters @kehlani @kneecap @massiveattackofficial and all the other artists who have repeatedly raised their voices, trying desperately to speak up for the Palestinian people who have been occupied and oppressed for nearly a century without protection or sympathy from the International community,” they wrote in the caption. “The unbridled slaughter with impunity is beyond my comprehension at this point. Please raise up your voices. Please pressure your MP’s and congress people. Please join in the protest once and for all. We all have a moral obligation to protect what is left of the Palestinian people before they are disappeared completely. Their suffering must end. Free Palestine.”

This comes as both Kehlani and Kneecap have had shows cancelled after voicing support for Palestine. Kehlani had an NYC show cancelled earlier this week due to “security and safety issues.” Since then, a Los Angeles festival she was scheduled to perform at empowHER, has also been postponed. The fest’s statement reads:

We are writing to advise the EmpowHer Music Festival scheduled for 10th May, has been regrettably postponed due to safety & security matter.

The new rescheduled date will be announced shortly.

Despite all aspects of the festival being in place, safety for all participants, from fans to artists and crew, is our clear no.1 priority.

As such, this is the only viable and responsible measure to take at this time.

The postponement will ensure all ticket holders are credited for the next EmpowHer Festival.

Once rescheduled, we look forward to an amazing event, with the incredible Line Up.

Thankyou.

EmpowHer Music Festival

Kehlani has not addressed the postponement at this time. Kneecap faced backlash from both Sharon Osbourne and Johnny Rotten, the latter not because of Palestine but because of a newly-viral video of Kneecap saying “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP” to a crowd in 2023. Kneecap then responded to both, telling Sharon Osbourne to “listen to ‘War Pigs'” and responding to the former Sex Pistols singer with “Never Mind The Bollocks – Here’s The Tories! Read More