Massive Attack says they turned down Coachella because of the festival’s environmental impact

Massive Attack has turned down an approach from Coachella to perform at the 2025 festival, citing its environmental impact, Robert “3D” Del Naja told NME in a recent interview. Speaking to Greg Cochrane, Del Naja lamented the burden on the festival’s water supplies, as well as others in desert areas and those accessible only by plane.

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

Del Naja and Cochrane came to discuss Coachella via the Las Vegas Sphere. “It’s an aviation destination,” Del Naja said. “You can’t get to Vegas (without flying)… What brilliant infrastructure in the worst possible place – in the worst environment in the world.” Among the band’s various ecological touring initiatives, he added, the band plans to release new music next year.

Pitchfork has reached out to Massive Attack and Coachella’s respective representatives for further comment and information.

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