Nick Cave has canceled his planned summer tour dates in Russia and Ukraine, sharing words of support for the invaded nation.
“Our thoughts and love go to the brave people of Ukraine, their heroic leader, and all those suffering from this senseless war,” reads a statement from the artist and his backing group, the Bad Seeds. “Ukraine, we stand with you, and with all those in Russia who oppose this brutal act. And we pray that this madness is brought to a close soon.”
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds previously announced a June date in Moscow and one in Ukraine in August. As of right now, the band’s planned concerts in countries that border western Ukraine, such as Slovakia and Poland, are still on.
In recent days, Green Day and Louis Tomlinson have canceled gigs in Russia and Ukraine. “The safety of my fans is my priority and my thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and all those suffering from this needless war,” Tomlinson wrote in a tweet.
Several other artists have also spoken out against the war. Former Pink Floyd frontman David Gilmour pleaded with Russian soldiers to “stop killing your brothers,” adding that “Putin must go.” Stevie Nicks likened the Russian president to Hitler. Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider backed Ukrainians using “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” And Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova called Putin a “dangerous dictator who must be stopped.” The former also launched a crypto fundraiser that collected nearly $3 million in less than 24 hours for Ukrainians.
Not for the first time, Moby is speaking out against Donald Trump’s administration with clear frustration.
“The U.S. is collapsing under a deeply corrupt and shockingly ineffective administration,” the longtime electronic musician shared on social media. “These are unbelievably dark times.”
Moby went deeper into his thoughts through a video message, where he explained that people outside the United States keep asking Americans what is actually happening in the country.
“So many of my friends outside the United States keep asking me, ‘what the hell is happening over there?’ And honestly, we don’t even know,” he said. “The country is being controlled by one of the most corrupt, dangerous and incompetent administrations imaginable. Nobody fully understands what’s happening right now. These are very dark times in America.”
Moby joins a growing list of artists publicly criticizing Trump and MAGA politics, including Bruce Springsteen, Jack White, Eminem and Billie Eilish.
Earlier this year, Moby uploaded another statement to social media where he addressed how people should respond following the killing of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. “The real question isn’t whether people should feel horrified or outraged by what’s happening in the United States,” Moby explained in the Jan. 26 clip. “The question is what are we actually going to do about it?”
The musician and activist also encouraged people to protest, saying demonstrations are a constitutional right and something he believes Trump’s administration is attempting to weaken.
In the end, he urged people to vote regularly, “not only during the upcoming midterms, even though those matter, but also in every special election throughout the year.” He also encouraged supporters to “stop giving money to the scumbag corporations backing Trump and ICE. We all know who they are. Boycott them.”
His newest remarks arrive as the U.S. Justice Department unveils a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for Trump allies who claim they were unfairly investigated. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz remains shut down following military action launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in late February without approval from Congress, leading to rising gas prices across the globe.
Throughout his independent music career, Moby has earned 10 entries on the Billboard 200 along with two songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and an enormous catalog of sync placements. Overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom, he is viewed as one of the defining artists of his era. He scored two No. 1 albums there with Play from 1999 and 18 from 2002, alongside 18 top 40 singles and two nominations for Best International Male at the BRIT Awards.
Check out Moby’s newest social media post below.
