Fat White Family have been banned from supporting Franz Ferdinand during the Summer Series at Somerset House in London this July.
In a short statement, organisers of the event claimed Fat White Family are, ‘Unsuitable to play at the venue and do not fit in with the ethos of the event’.
Responding with their own statement, the band said they feel the decision is ‘ironic’ due to other items on display at Somerset House.
“Fat White Family were asked by Franz Ferdinand to support them at Somerset House,” the band explained. “Greedily eyeing the thousands of innocents that would be gathered there, the band eagerly said yes. We find no little irony in the fact that The Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House has amongst its permanent collection A Bar At The Folies-Bergere by Eduard Manet, someone who himself was once deemed a danger to public health.”
“This was said about Manet’s painting the Absinthe Drinker when it was rejected for the Paris Salon: ‘An absinthe drinker! And they paint abominations like that! My poor friend, you are the absinthe drinker. It is you who have lost your moral sense’. Plus ca change as the French might say.”
The Summer Series will run at Somerset House between July 10th-20th. As well as Franz Ferdinand, other acts who have been deemed to fit in with the ethos of the event include Sam Smith, Daughter, Kodaline and Agnes Obel.