Massive Attack rejected an offer from Coachella to perform at the 2025 festival on the grounds that the band would have an impact on the environment, Robert “3D” Del Naja said NME in a recent interview. Speaking to Greg Cochrane, Del Naja lamented the strain on the festival’s water supply, as well as other locations in the desert and those accessible only by air.

“We said no to Coachella next year,” Del Naja said. “We were there once and once was enough. It’s in Palm Springs. It is a golf resort built in the desert and has a sprinkler system and public water supply. Mentally. If you want to see something that represents the most ridiculous human behavior, it’s right there.”

Del Naja and Cochrane came via the Las Vegas Sphere to discuss Coachella. “This is a flying destination,” Del Naja said. “You can’t get to Vegas (without flying)…. What a brilliant infrastructure in the worst place there is – in the worst environment in the world.” He added that among the band’s various environmental touring initiatives, 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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