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L to R: Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall

Sep 02, 2016 Banksy By Christopher Roberts

Mysterious and mischievous acclaimed British street artist Banksy has somehow managed to keep his true identity secret since his start in the 1990s. Now a new article by Scottish writer Craig Williams suggests that he may indeed be Robert “3D” Del Naja of Bristol England Trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack or that Banksy may be a collective of artists either led by Del Naja or somehow connected to Massive Attack. Both Del Naja and Banksy got their start in Bristol. Williams points out that Banksy artwork has often shown up in conjunction with a Massive Attack tour date in the same city. Del Naja is also a graffiti artist who Banksy has cited as an influence.

It’s an interesting conspiracy theory. Banksy wrote the forward to Del Naja’s book 3D and the Art of Massive Attack and Del Naja was in Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop documentary. But it could also be that Banksy is just a friend of Massive Attack’s and maybe went out on tour with them and did his artwork along the way. Also, previously some art experts have concluded that Bristol artist Robin Gunningham is Banksy. Below is a map the British newspaper The Daily Mail has put together detailing Banksy artwork that went up in conjunction with Massive Attack tour dates. Read Williams’ full article here.

What is proven fact is that Massive Attack have been sharing new songs via their Fantom app. They also just released on vinyl a new song entitled “Dear Friend.” Below is the recently shared video for “The Spoils,” a song that features Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Starr. John Hillcoat (The Road, Lawless, and The Proposition) directed the clip which stars Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett.

(Via Consequence of Sound)