Paul Weller, Suggs, and More Unite for Gaza Fundraiser Supergroup
A star-studded lineup featuring Paul Weller, Suggs, and other music icons formed a supergroup for a one-off London gig to raise funds for Gaza.
A constellation of British music legends, including The Jam's Paul Weller, Madness' Suggs, Dexys' Kevin Rowland, Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock, and Roxy Music's Andy McKay, convened to form a supergroup for a special one-off gig in London, raising money for Gaza.
The event, held at London’s Scala on May 17th, was organized by Artists for Gaza to benefit Health Workers 4 Palestine’s Gaza Medics Solidarity Fund. This initiative supports the rebuilding of maternity wards, funds mobile clinics, and provides stipends to Gazan medics. Donations and further information can be found here.
The confirmed lineup boasted an impressive array of talent: Paul Weller, Madness, Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols), and Kevin Rowland (Dexys Midnight Runners), alongside Gilles Peterson, Roxy Music saxophonist Andy Mackay, Simon Bartholomew (The Brand New Heavies), and Clive Langer.
The highlight of the evening was the formation of 'The Scala Band,' a supergroup featuring Weller, Rowland, Matlock, McKay, Langer, Suggs, Lee Thompson, Bedders, and Barso from Madness.
Their setlist included Bread’s ‘Everything I Own’, the poignant anti-war anthem ‘Shipbuilding’, and Madness classics like ‘Our House’, ‘My Girl’, ‘Madness’ and ‘The Harder They Come’.
DJ sets kept the energy high between performances, featuring sets from Jerry Dammers, Gilles Peterson, Simon Bartholomew, Aitch B of Soul II Soul, DJ Prime Cuts, David Holmes, The Beirut Collective, Jeremy Healey, Lascelles Gordon, and Primal Scream's Gillespie. Notable attendees included The Kite Runner actor Khalid Abdalla, EastEnders’ Jesse Wallace, and photographer Misan Harriman.
The event followed a pro-Palestine march in London on May 16th, where thousands gathered to protest. A counter-protest organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson also took place that day.
Kevin Rowland of Dexys emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “I wanted to play Artists for Gaza because it’s my duty as a human being to do whatever I possibly can. Innocent people are being slaughtered and our government don’t care.”
Glen Matlock attends Artists For Gaza. CREDIT: Grant Buchanan/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Gillespie added, “[Artists for Gaza founder] Chris Sullivan is an old friend who I respect very much. When he told me what he was planning to do with the people being massacred in Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces I said I would love to be involved.”
He continued, “I believe it’s the human rights issue of our time. A grave historical injustice has been done to the Palestinian people. Our government are complicit in the genocide prosecuted by Israel. I support the Palestinian people’s struggle for equal rights and justice.”
Prior to this event, three Artists for Gaza events had already raised over £55,000 for UNICEF’s Gaza appeal, providing crucial aid such as food, medical care, and shelter.
The series of Artists for Gaza events began in November 2024, followed by another in March 2025. A third event at Century Club in London featured performances from Paul Weller, Bobby Gillespie, and The Clash’s Paul Simonon.
Previously, Primal Scream collaborated on a shirt design for a Palestinian refugee football team, and Weller voiced his support for Palestine, stating he was “against genocides and ethnic cleansing” and performing with a Palestinian flag draped over his guitar amp.
Gillespie and Weller have also shown their support by signing a letter from Heavenly Recordings, defending freedom of expression for musicians after Kneecap faced backlash for their support of Palestine.
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