ALT Boycott of Berghain: from March 2024 to now More and more artists are boycotting Berghain in response to Berghain’s silence on the genocide in Palestine and cancellation of artists in solidarity with Palestinian liberation Antifascist Music Alliance 25/11/2024

ALT Interview with Josey Rebelle When did you make the decision? Was that before or after the March call for boycott from DJs Against Apartheid and Ravers for Palestine? I was upset to hear about Berghain’s cancellation of Arabian Panther’s event and the way the club had chosen to handle the situation. When this story broke in January I had just agreed to play six dates at Berghain across 2024 and so I knew I needed to have an urgent discussion with the club. I sent the club an email to express my thoughts, indicating that I was considering leaving, and we agreed to have a phone call.

ALT I asked whether Berghain intended to make any public statement or gesture to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, to signal any support for Gaza as it did with Ukraine, or to align itself with the demands of the Strike Germany movement. If the answer to these questions was no, I asked if Berghain intended to take any steps at all. While the tone of the subsequent phone call was respectful, it was clear to me that there was no remorse over the way this situation had been handled, and there was to be neither an apology nor any clarification on the club’s stance on Gaza. I was told that Berghain did not get involved in political matters. Again I pointed out that the club had been very vocal in its support of Ukraine, including setting up a dedicated page on its website, which proved that the club was absolutely able to speak up on these matters and was consciously choosing not to do the same for Gaza.