Right now, drone-metal pioneers Earth are touring Europe. On Tuesday night (Jan. 27), Earth were slated to play at the Bologna, Italy venue TPO, which hosts cultural events as well as underground bands. According to various reports from the show, Earth did not perform because Dylan Carlson, the band's frontman and sole permanent member, objected to the Palestinian flag hanging in the venue.
According to attendee the New Noise, Carlson refused to play unless TPO removed the Palestinian flag that was hanging next to the stage, but the venue refused to remove the flag. A translated account from the Italian site IndieForBunnies reads: "The historic post-rock band of Washington state led by Dylan Carlson asked to remove a Palestinian flag present in the venue, but the TPO refused, so Earth decided to cancel the live (organized by Hardstaff Booking and the Freakout Club)."
Posting a photo from the show, Instagram user @zang_tumb_tuumb wrote, "Dylan Carlson, upon seeing the flag, asked for it to be removed... The TPO (Occupied Multipurpose Theatre) preferred to cancel the concert and lose the evening's revenue (which is not insignificant for a social center) rather than turn a blind eye to the ongoing genocide. From tonight, I can add Dylan Carlson to the list of those people who have produced great art, but without possessing equally great humanity." (That account has been Google-translated from Italian.)
Twitter user @adumanlio gave a similar report, which again has been translated from Italian: "Stage was ready and everything. They were supposed to start at 9:30 pm. At 10:15 pm someone from TPO came out saying that Carlson, the singer, wouldn’t perform unless they removed the Palestinian flag. TPO said 'we’re not taking it down' and they cancelled everything."
Confermo. Ero lì. Palco pronto e tutto. Dovevano iniziare alle 21.30. Alle 22.15 è uscito uno del TPO dicendo che appunto che Carlson, il cantante, non avrebbe suonato se non avessero rimosso la bandiera della Palestina. Il TPO ha detto "non la togliamo" ed hanno annullato tutto.
— adu (@adumanlio) January 27, 2026
Carlson’s and Earth’s Instagrams shared a statement that TPO "put politics above music and have cancelled the show tonight” and that “it has nothing to do with” the band or presenter Freakout Club.
It's unclear how long TPO has had a Palestinian flag hanging, but social media photos and videos suggest that it hadn't been there before this past weekend, when the venue hosted a two-day "O Re o Libertà," or "No Kings," assembly. That event brought together various activist groups for panels.
Earth were slated to play last night's gig with openers Nataša Grujović and Steve Moore, the latter of whom plays in Earth. Based on the announcement time mentioned in the tweet above, it seems that the openers did perform before Earth's headlining set was called off.
According to a video viewed by Stereogum, TPO personnel stayed onstage after the cancellation and spoke to the crowd (translated from Italian):
“All expenses will be covered by us. These are important expenses for tonight. We once again ask for your understanding regarding this choice, but at this time it is a decisive political choice for spaces like ours, which just a few days ago hosted more than 700 people to discuss how to send this government we’re facing home, and all the kings of the world who make war in this damn world.”
They then led the assembled fans in a “Free Palestine” chant.
There is no word yet about refunds. We've reached out to band publicists, and we'll update this story if we hear from them. One week ago, Earth surprise-released Geometry Of Murder: Extra Capsular Extraction Inversions, producer Black Noi$e's reworking of their 1991 debut EP. The band is scheduled to play at Circolo Magnolia in Segrate, Italy tonight.
