ZAK TELL explains why CLAWFINGER no longer performs one of his biggest songs with an anti-racist message

Singer Zak Tell from the long-running Swedish rap/metal duo CLAW FINGER spoke to French broadcaster Loud TV about why he and his bandmates are no longer performing their controversial single “N****r,” an anti-racist statement that caused a lot of noise and gained huge popularity. success. The song was included in CLAW FINGERFirst album of , 1993 “Deaf-dumb-blind”which sold over 600,000 copies worldwide and received critical acclaim in the Swedish press.

“It’s just about being respectful of the fact that times have changed,” he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “There is a new political climate. There is the whole Black Lives Matter movement. You have a completely different consciousness. And out of respect for the way things are going in the world right now, this is not the right song to play. And that’s a much bigger problem than just a three and a half minute song. So it’s almost making it too easy or too… It’s too serious a subject and problem to let one song take over the big picture.

“So no, we’re not playing that song anymore. And it’s not because we don’t respect it, because we 100% support the lyrics of that song, but it’s to be respectful of the way the world is right now. And it may be sad, but it’s also the reality. And we’re not a part of it. MOTLEY CRUE bands that just say, “Fuck you.” We’re going to do what we want because we are MÖTLEY CRUE.’ We’re a little more respectful than that and we like the idea of ​​evolving with the times. Yes, in our world we are the biggest band in the world, sure, but in reality we are just a stupid little rock band. And this subject is much broader than that. So, as of right now, it’s unfortunately not a song that we’re playing. »

Say also expressed his belief that humans are our worst enemies when it comes to what it will take to address existential risks.

“Adult human beings are stupid and overrated most of the time,” he said. “We’re a pretty basic species at the end of the day. We’re not as evolved as we think we are. That’s just my personal opinion. I think we’re stupid most of the time, myself included. I don’t consider myself perfect or amazing. It’s pretty scary to see the world, what we do to each other. We’ve got a long way to go if we’re going to survive as a species. And I’m not sure we’re going to be the last race on earth. I think animals could very well outlive us.”

In March 2022, CLAW FINGER released the official music video for his new single, “Environmental patients”. The track marked the first new music from CLAW FINGER in more than two years.

Before the arrival of “Environmental patients”, CLAW FINGER released a single called “Tear you apart” in September 2019 and “Save our souls” in 2017. “Save our souls” was made available four years later CLAW FINGER announced that it was ceasing its activities.

During the studio break, the members of CLAW FINGER reportedly taking care of their families while performing sporadic reunion shows, mostly at European festivals. “CLAW FINGER it’s not our main job anymore,” the band explained at the time. “We all have other jobs and families to love.”

CLAW FINGERthe latest studio album “Life is going to kill you”was released in the United States in July 2008 via Locomotive recordsThe CD, which entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 89 upon its European release in 2007, was recorded and produced in Sweden. Fear and Loathing Studiosan installation which CLAW FINGER runs with members of MESHUGGAH.