Massive Attack say they declined Coachella appearance over climate crisis concerns

Robert Del Naja has revealed that Massive Attack declined an invitation to perform at Coachella in 2025, labelling the festival “the most ludicrous bit of human behaviour” in regards to the damage the festival does to the environment.

Speaking to NME, Del Naja said the group are committed to only performing shows and festival dates that they are sure are not directly contributing towards worsening the climate crisis, even if that means declining lucrative offers from major promoters.

“We said no to Coachella for next year because again, we’ve been there once, and once was enough,” Del Naja said. “It’s in Palm Springs. It’s a golf resort built on a desert, run on a sprinkler system, using public water supplies. Mental. If you want to see something that’s the most ludicrous bit of human behaviour – it’s right there.”

Del Naja was asked about the sustainability of something like a Las Vegas residency, in which the artist remains in one place thus reducing the damage done by traveling. “It’s a head-scratcher, the artists in Vegas residency thing, because that’s an aviation destination,” he replied. “You can’t get to Vegas [without flying]. So if you’re doing a couple years in Vegas, you are the catalyst for all those scope 3 emissions [indirect emissions created by a company or activity] by playing.

In recent years Massive Attack have pioneered “climate action accelerator” events, including a large outdoor show held in Bristol, U.K. last summer that was powered by 100% renewable energy.