Muse frontman: "Lockerbie Bomber should have died in jail"

Muse frontman Matt Bellamy has waded into the Lockerbie Bomber debate and has said that he feels Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi should have been left to die in jail.

"It's a shame it happened," he told www.rockradio.co.uk. "It doesn't make sense to me. Plenty of other people have died in prison. I don't see why this particular person has been allowed out."

Megrahi was convicted in 2001 for his involvement in the bombing of transatlantic flight Pan Am 103 which exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie on it's way to New York's JFK airport in December 1988 killing 270 people. Megrahi was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released last month on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to his native Libya after it was revealed he was suffering from terminal prostate cancer.

"It's clearly a political move to do with oil interests," added Bellamy. "The UK has an energy security issue. The North Sea is drying up and the middle-east wars haven't gone that well.

"I think the UK is trying to do deals with Libya and part of the process was the release of this prisoner. I think he should have died in prison."

In related news, Muse will play two hometown shows at The Den in Teignmouth this weekend (September 4 and 5). Tickets are on sale now from www.aloud.com.

Tags: Muse

Posted by Dan at 11:36AM | September 3, 2009

hmm

Not sure why he has felt the need to wade in on this particular topic. What's it got to do with music?

I'm not saying he's not allowed an opinion, we all have free speech, but what's it got to do with Rock Radio?

Further, why has it been repeated on here? I thought Kerrang was meant for music news?

I am a big fan of Muse, Rock Radio and Kerrang. I watch kerrang every day, listen to RR on my way to work and am seeing Muse in November at the Liverpool Echo Arena but can't see why this particular story has made it into the musics press?

If you want a platform for social commentary why not do it through your music?

For what it's worth since it has been mentioned I think Meghrahi's release was a means to an end for thr Scots government. Megrahi was willing to appeal his conviction again despite only having months to live but was told he would definitely walk (if he dropped his appeal) on compassionate grounds. Megrahi, just wanting to get out ASAP, made the logical decision to drop his appeal because it was unlikely he would be freed before he died.

The evidence that Megrahi was convicted on was sketchy to say the least and if he can convince some of the families of the deceased that he is innocent of these terrorist acts then I'd go as far to say he probably didnt do it.

The government had no better option than to send Megrahi down as a fall-guy so at least the public felt they had their man.

Posted by Paul | September 3, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply to this

here here...

...was just clicking to leave excactly the same comment, you are the first person I have come across that I have heard say that, seems like the majority of the public are happily ignorant of the fact that he was a fall-guy. Officially it was our side that fired the first shot and fucked up by shooting down an iranian airliner so yeah if people wanna point the finger at anyone it should be our government.

sorry to get all micheal moore on ya lol I just reckon its attrocious that things like this happen in our own country right under our noses. cunts.

Posted by Paddy | September 3, 2009 8:53 PM | Reply to this

here here...

Exactly, Paddy.

If people took the time to review the evidence and read up on the facts rather than what is conveniently laid out for them in the press they would see the truth.

Megrahi has met with many of the families of those who died and they believe that he is innocent. Indeed, some of the families plan to carry on his appeal to be cleared after he is gone which shows just how shakey the conviction was in the first place. He was a fall guy pure and simple.

Anyone who thinks our government is 'clean' and that we have a free press is sadly mistake. Please open your eyes and make your own conclusions rather than believing what the media says.

Posted by Paul | September 4, 2009 11:22 AM | Reply to this

so true

Matthew Bellamy is so right. That bomber deserves no compassion at all. He should've rotted in jail just like any other mass murderer (though murder inprisonment laws nowadays don't span half as far as they should!)
Take Ronnie Biggs: his release was well justified cos he's old(er than al-Megrahi) and killed no one in his breaking of the law.
I am up there with Matt, he knows what he's saying....even if, as many have pointed out, this has nothing to do with music, but it's the world today, and as much as I hate to say it, there's more to life than music.

Posted by Molko Magic | September 4, 2009 9:32 AM | Reply to this

so true

We can agree to disagree on whether or not he is guilty as everyone's opinion is as valid as eachother.

I see what you're saying about there being more to life than music and I'm not questioning that but this is a music website for music news. If he had something to say on it he should have done so through the appropriate channels.

What next? A review of the banking crisis by Take That in Smash Hits?

Certainly, with the target demographic of K! I think it is a bit of a cheap shot that it was published here.

Posted by Paul | September 4, 2009 1:59 PM | Reply to this

hmm

Considering the amount of coverage Green day have got with their anti-Bush shtick over the past, why shouldn't Muse get coverage?

Posted by Dr De'Ath, MD | September 20, 2009 12:09 AM | Reply to this

Oill...

Its cause our scumbag of a government wanted to do an oil deal yet they deny it, even after letters have been leaked !?!?!?!

In my opinion they should all be shot, the lying bastards.

Posted by josh | September 3, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply to this

fuck off bellamy

the man's dying,even if he did it, wouldn't anyone want to die at home.

i don't believe he even did it, the evidence they got him with was so flimsy,it's just because america was involved they had to crack down.

Posted by beck | September 4, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply to this

this story is doing my head in!!

this bomming happened 21 years ago. I'm only 14. It makes no difference to me whether this man was sent back to libya or whether he stayed in jail where he was. he was going to die anyway.

Please, this is old news. stop doing the heads of people like me in!

Posted by Selenety The Cat | September 4, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply to this

this story is doing my head in!!

Although I disagree with your wording and the intent of the statement itself this is exactly my point as to why it shouldn't be on here in the first place.

If you wanted to read about the Lockerbie bombings you'd have gone to a news website. Just like if you want to read about alternative music you don't check the BBC website.

However, Kerrang went their and published it so people will comment on it!

Posted by Paul | September 4, 2009 5:40 PM | Reply to this

Thank the lord.

Someone at least knows what's right and wrong now. x

Posted by Betty | September 4, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply to this

Well said by Matt.

To the haters, fuck off, Kerrang post news about every time Pete Wentz changes the colour of his eyeliner, this is no less music related than half the tripe that goes on here.

Posted by Pjotr | September 8, 2009 1:56 PM | Reply to this

Why we did it

Interesting comments -I thought some people might be interested in why I, as Rock Radio Editor, decided to run the story in the first place..

People who like Muse's music are interested in the people behind the music - you want to know WHO did the WHAT. Same for every band.

So while I agree it's a slightly off-the-angle thing to say during an interview about the new album, it came up, and it's a good way to get to know another aspect of Matt, and therefore another aspect of the music.

There's also the point that Muse have always been a bit of a politically-aware band. So you put that in the mix - I mean, if Steel Panther said something about Megrahi I don't think any of us would have given it much consideration (although you never know !)

But ultimately, in my news judgement it was interesting. Some of you guys have been interested enough to comment, and other outlets have carried the story, so I wasn't wrong on that count.

And as some of you have already said, music is just one part of life. The things that happen outside music inspire and form the music.

You always have the choice to read the headline and pass over it. One of my jobs is to give you a variety of options of things to read. So if you don't wanna know what Matt has to say about Megrahi, let's see if we can offer you something you DO want to read.

That's news - you never know what'll happen next.

But thanks for posting your comments - alyways useful to know what the people who pay our wages think. We won't always agree - and we wouldn't want to, would we!

Thanks again!

Ch;M.

Posted by Martin Kielty | September 8, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply to this

Why we did it

Cheers for the response Martin and thanks for the recent follow on Twitter (@paoconnor).

It's great to see that you guys are keeping in close touch with what goes on in and around social engagement with you content. 99.9% of companies put something out there and then forget about it so its great to see a follow-up and commitment. Part of the reason why I'm a RR fan due to the passion of the people that form it!!

Totally agree with the use of music as social commentary but still can't fathom why Bellamy would be drawn into the debate in an interview. This is his choice, for sure, but not one that I would've made personally. But hey, to each his own.

I did make myself laugh with the whole "Take That review of the banking crisis in Smash Hits" thing, though!

Posted by Paul | September 9, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply to this

Why we did it

At the end of the day he could of been a fall guy we wont realy know.

And matt is allowed his opinion, he put his view across and so let that be it.

Posted by Declan McCabe | September 9, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply to this

Why we did it

Hi Declan,

I think the surprise was more in Matt's choice of time and place rather than him actually having an opinion. After all, every one is entitled to their views.

I'm still of the mind that the reproduction of the story here on Kerrang is probably more surprising than the occurance of the story initially on RR because, as mentioned by Martin, the topic came up in the interview.

However, the posting of it on here is completely out of fit with the general tone and intent of K! mag.

Cheers,

Paul

Posted by Paul | September 9, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply to this