PETA has called on Cage The Elephant to temporarily change their name ahead of their upcoming NFL halftime performance in Munich later this week.
The band are scheduled to perform during the New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions game this Sunday (November 15).
Ahead of the show, PETA has asked Cage The Elephant to change their name across their social media accounts to Free The Elephant for one week.
According to a press release from the animal rights group, an elephant named Okha “has spent most of her life forced to perform in the circus under the threat of punishment”. The organisation is now seeking support to “help retire her to a reputable sanctuary”.
PETA also alleges that Okha is “currently being hauled around in a trailer with an exhibitor, Brian Franzen”, who supposedly “has a history of felony cruelty to animals charges” and “was caught on camera yanking and striking an elephant with a bullhook”.
In a letter addressed to Cage The Elephant, PETA wrote: “There ain’t no rest for Okha. We think you’d agree that she deserves the chance to spend her remaining years in peace with care, dignity, and respect.
“Lending a rendition of your iconic name for a short while could… help us come a little closer to ending animal cruelty in circuses.”
PETA added that it has already held more than “30 demonstrations on Okha’s behalf, contacted venues hosting animal acts, and rallied tens of thousands of supporters to call for her retirement”.
The group is also asking the public to “call on venues to stop hosting circuses that use animals and help retire Okha to a reputable sanctuary where she could roam expansive habitats, forage, receive expert veterinary care, and have the companionship of other elephants”.
Cage The Elephant have not yet made a public statement about the request, and NME has reached out to the band for a response. Franzen has also not issued a public response to the allegations made by PETA.
The request follows a previous approach by PETA to Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, asking him to temporarily adopt the name ‘Robert Plant Wool’ to help promote alternatives to sheep’s wool.
PETA has also previously urged Nintendo to redesign the popular Mario Kart World character Cow, claiming that its current appearance encourages animal cruelty.
Meanwhile, Cage The Elephant recently revealed details of their upcoming album ‘Dying In Reverse’, which is set to arrive on February 5, 2027, through Big Loud Rock. Fans can pre-order the record here.
The band are also preparing for a UK and European tour in 2027. You can check out the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
Queens Of The Stone Age have secured the Number 1 spot on the Official Albums Chart, with their ninth studio album, Perfecth, making its debut at the top. The American rock band have now earned their second UK Number 1 album, following the success of their 2017 record Villains.
The band also came out on top in physical sales this week, claiming Number 1 on the Official Vinyl Albums Chart after selling more vinyl copies than any other release. Olivia Rodrigo follows at Number 2 with You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In, while Michael Jackson's The Essential remains at Number 3.
Scottish band The Snuts have taken Number 4 with Joy In Short Moments, marking their fourth album in a row to reach the Top 5. They also secured the Number 1 position on the Official Record Store Chart, recording the biggest sales across independent record shops during the past week. Fontaines D.C. complete the Top 5, with Dopamine Chamber falling three places to Number 5.
Elsewhere in the Top 10, Canadian rock band Nickelback have added another milestone to their career, as Everything Under The Sun enters at Number 6 to become their eighth Top 10 album. Birmingham group Editors have matched that achievement, with Surface, Echo & Sound arriving at Number 7. Following Halloween weekend, Michael Jackson's iconic album Thriller has also made a strong return, climbing 14 places to re-enter the Top 10 at Number 10.
American DJ and producer MK has made his first appearance on the Official Albums Chart at Number 20 with In The Night Again, his debut solo full-length album. Meanwhile, UK rapper Nines has secured his second Top 40 album of the year, with Young Nina opening at Number 30. This follows his earlier release Lost Tapes, which reached Number 14 earlier this autumn.
Completing this week's notable chart movements, The Who have returned to the Top 40 with their 1975 album The Who By Numbers, which has re-entered at Number 31 after the release of an extensive super deluxe edition.
