Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Massive Attack’s 3D & Tim Goldsworthy of UNKLE played a surprise thank you gig last night at Occupy London in support of the global movement for social and economic justice.
Occupy London’s alternative UBS office Xmas party featuring poets, dancers and comedians was joined by some very special anti-corporate entertainment in the basement of the Bank of Ideas building on Sun Street – an abandoned former office block near Liverpool Street belonging to investment bank UBS. Ironically, UBS was holding its actual Christmas party just down the road from the intimate gig.
Occupy London recently took over the multi-million pound office complex in an act of public repossession. Now a thriving arts and community centre used by more than 30 groups, the Bank of Ideas is facing potential eviction. A decision will be delivered this morning at 10:00am in Court 36 at the Royal Courts of Justice. The Bank of Ideas legal team are hopeful, but they have appeal papers ready and have advised police against rash action.
The exclusive DJ sets were played to an audience of Occupiers and livestreamed around the world via the Occupy London livestream. The performances have been recorded for an album and HD video, to be made available to help raise money for Occupy London and the wider Occupy movement. Both will soon be available on a “pay what you want” basis from the Occupation Records label.
Adam Fitzmaurice, an Occupy London supporter who helped to arrange the event said: “Thom Yorke, 3D & Tim Goldsworthy wanted to do something to show their solidarity and say a big thank you to Occupy London and the Occupy movement around the world. Their intervention is an important cultural response to the economic injustice that is happening and will hopefully help ensure that more people join the fight. This is just the beginning: we’ve a raft of live performances in store, so now is the time to be involved!”
Massive Attack recently launched a Soundcloud page: see the link for Occupy Radio in the right-column of this blog.