Music icon Goldie criticises UK government's neglect of club culture: 'It's a f***ing travesty'

Goldie has torn into the UK government's restrictions, particularly the guidelines halting the reopening of clubs and night-life for another four weeks as a result of the Delta variant.

Last Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that social distancing would continue in England and Wales until July 19, at least — almost a month later than originally planned. An average of 7,278 cases per day were reported in the UK in the last week, an increase of 127 percent from the average two weeks ago.

England’s nightclubs were told for the fourth time that they could not reopen at all, even with distancing. Nightclubs in Britain have been closed since March 2020, and over 150 events were planned in London alone for the weekend of June 25, including a sold-out 42-hour-long party at Fabric club. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) in the UK issued a statement last week calling for "urgent intervention from Government."

In an Instagram video - which has now been viewed over 122,000 times since yesterday - DJ, visual artist, actor, producer and musician Goldie criticised the hypocrisy of awarding MBEs to artists who have contributed to the British music industry while failing to deliver support during the pandemic.

The performer is credited with helping to put the underground sounds of drum and bass and jungle on the mainstream map, and was recognised for services to his industry and young people in 2016 by Prince Charles.

Instantly recognisable with his trademark gold capped teeth, Goldie (Clifford Price) emphasised the billions of pounds in revenue brought into Britain by musicians, pointing out the double standards of allowing thousands of football fans to gather in large groups over the weekend while keeping clubs closed. Wembley Stadium hosted England versus Scotland in the Euros 2020 last week, with huge crowds forming.

"A bunch of people get in a room, doff their caps and give you an MBE for contributing to music, but what's confusing are the double standards impacting club culture. This culture has turned over a lot of money for the industry. Think of the vendors at night-time and the cleaners involved at clubs and festivals. Yet you can have 30,000 people in the middle of London, and I love football, but you can have that many people all going at it, having a drink, having a good time, but you can't have a club open," Goldie said in the video.

"I'm really confused. What kind of message are you sending?" the DJ added. "What is the British government doing, the people making these f**king rules? I've got my little 'Blue Peter' badge, and acknowledgement of what I've achieved, but what have you f***ing achieved? What have you seriously done apart from pushing a pen? You're not thinking logically about what denying club culture really means."

Goldie also referred to the emotional and mental toll the lack of night-life has on young people in the UK.

"If this is what you're telling us, what's it doing for the next generation? Do you have a vendetta against dance music? Could you not rave when you were a kid? Unbelievable. It's a f***ing travesty."

Price was raised in the care system and grew up around the West Midlands, acknowledging when he received his MBE award five years ago that "music and art well and truly saved my life really - the light switched on when I discovered art."

Currently, dance events are still not allowed under Covid-19 restrictions in Ireland, with no guidelines in place yet as to when clubs will reopen.

Watch the full, expletive-heavy video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GOLDIE (@mrgoldie)