From Guitar World · · 1m 50s
Ed Sheeran rebuilds tour after Palestine solidarity walkout
After his backing band quit in support of Macklemore, Sheeran assembles new musicians and addresses the controversy head-on.
In brief
After his backing band quit in support of Macklemore, Sheeran assembles new musicians and addresses the controversy head-on. Sheeran acknowledged the complexity of the Palestine-Israel conflict and his role in the controversy, while assembling a last-minute replacement band to keep his tour running. Originally…
Backing band quits in solidarity
Irish folk group Beoga withdrew from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after rapper Macklemore was removed for voicing support for Palestine onstage. All opening acts also left in solidarity.
Macklemore removed by promoter
Promoter Messina Touring Group forcibly removed Macklemore after he voiced Palestine support onstage, following pressure from billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft. Sheeran's team did not intervene.
Sheeran addresses the controversy
Sheeran took the stage in Philadelphia on September 19 and apologized for his mistakes, saying he never wanted to be an activist but was forced into an important debate about freedom of speech.
“I've had to take, and make, difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I'm so, so sorry for them.”
Sheeran acknowledges both sides
He called the October 7 attacks on Israel horrific and acknowledged Jewish pain, while also describing Gaza's devastation as catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate.
“What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate.”
Concerns about pre-approval censorship
Sheeran expressed deep worry about venues and owners requiring performer content to be pre-approved, framing it as a threat to artistic freedom.
“Everyone is telling me to cancel, and I'm feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me.”
New band assembled in three days
Sheeran recruited violinist Alicia Enstrom and three other musicians with just three days to learn the songs. The band includes Mike on drums, CJ on keys, Eric on bass, and Clay on guitar.
“How am I going to get musicians to stand on stage with me in a week where no-one wants to?”
Musicians risk their own reputations
Sheeran praised the new band for agreeing to perform despite knowing the world might judge them negatively for standing with him during the controversy.
“They said yes with the knowledge that the world may hate them too for standing on stage with me.”
Tour continues with uncertain future
The Loop Tour resumes September 25 at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Sheeran has not confirmed whether this new band will stay for the remainder of the tour dates.
At a glance
Sheeran acknowledged the complexity of the Palestine-Israel conflict and his role in the controversy, while assembling a last-minute replacement band to keep his tour running.
