ON February 22 2025, the day before the pivotal general election in Germany, as Project 2025 dismantled democracy in the US and called for a vote for the fascist AfD, Laibach completed the greatest performance I have ever seen in any art form, one born in their brave live gig during the siege of Sarajevo in 1995. I walked out of Islington Town Hall enthused and inspired, and the feeling is still there.

I gave it a while to reflect on things, because I didn’t want to be overcome by the emotion of the moment. I compared it to the Clash at the Rainbow in ’77, the first time I saw Bolan in 1970 aged 13, the Rock against Racism carnivals, some of the gigs I did for Anti-Fascist Action in the 1980s and the most memorable other gigs I’ve done myself — 44 years and about 4,000 of them. 

And I’m sure. Because of the time in which it is taking place and the brilliance of the material, Laibach’s performance that night was the most powerful, relevant, inspirational concert in any musical or artistic form I have ever experienced. And I’m 67.