Forget the polite applause and hushed reverence typically associated with classical music. When Nigel Kennedy takes the stage, you're more likely to witness a firestorm of rock 'n' roll energy, boundary-pushing virtuosity, and, as audiences at London's Cadogan Hall recently discovered, a blistering political takedown.
The Mohican-topped violin maestro, often dubbed classical music's 'bad boy', didn't just play for his sold-out crowd; he seized the moment to deliver a sweary, on-stage assessment of the state of the world, zeroing in on Donald Trump and his allies. Kennedy's performance wasn't just a concert; it was an electric, unfiltered cri de cœur that transcended the score.
An On-Stage Outburst: Nigel Kennedy's Take on Donald Trump
The 68-year-old virtuoso's political commentary erupted while he was introducing a piece by an immigrant musician during his 'Spiritual Connection' tour. Kennedy reflected on the prevailing political climate, telling nearly 1,000 adoring fans, 'I don't know if this man would have been in America if there had been today's president there.'
His pointed reference to Donald Trump's controversial and restrictive immigration and deportation policies, which critics have branded as fascist, immediately drew cheers and applause from the audience. Never one to mince words, Kennedy added, 'I don't really know what to think about all that. But people vote for these c--. It's all very strange.'
These remarks, delivered with characteristic bluntness, align with a broader climate of criticism directed at the former president. They come amidst ongoing legal and public relations battles for Trump, including an active lawsuit seeking up to $5 billion from the BBC over the editing of a speech he made prior to the Capitol riot.
Furthermore, the incident occurred just hours after global outrage over Trump allegedly branding a female journalist 'piggy' aboard Air Force One. His recent public defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House—when questioned by a different female reporter about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi—has also drawn significant international condemnation.
Nigel Kennedy's willingness to use his platform for such a potent, unscripted political attack has undoubtedly delighted many of Trump's critics, including those at the BBC.
The Maestro's Return: Music, Mirth, and the Man Behind the Keyword
Kennedy's rip-roaring set was a masterclass in musical defiance and eclectic taste. The Jimi Hendrix-obsessed maestro seamlessly blended genres, performing classical compositions alongside rock pieces on an electric violin and even including a rendition of Ryuichi Sakamoto's theme tune from the David Bowie war movie, Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence.
Despite his stature as a darling of the classical world, Kennedy constantly poked fun at the genre's inherent snobbery. He jokingly dubbed the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris the 'Paris Conservatoire of Mediocrity' during his set.
Further embracing his non-conformist style, he hung an Aston Villa football team scarf on a grand piano behind him throughout the gig, only to later hit out at the team's 'tippy-tappy' playing style. When a fan waved a Lions scarf at him, Kennedy dramatically whirled his own scarf around before hurling it onto the ground.
'We're not bad – but I'm not into all this tippy-tappy stuff... get right in there, in an old English way,' he complained, praising the British character, 'We are the most self-effacing mother------ on the planet.' He added that, after touring globally, 'It's nice to be back in a place where people understand what I'm on about.'
The concert marked a significant return for the virtuoso, who suffered partial deafness for three months in 2021 following his third Covid vaccination. Sporting gold trainers and colourful tops, Kennedy had previously admitted the hearing loss left him in no condition to play concerts as he found himself playing 'out of tune.'
Last year, he even feared he might never play professionally again, stating, 'I wasn't in a fit state to play concerts. I didn't want to play with colleagues while I was playing out of tune.'
The Cadogan Hall gig, where he fist-bumped his band and front-row audience members, signalled a full recovery. During the interval, the fiddler, who has previously admitted to using cannabis, jokingly encouraged his audience to drink up to fight the 'colder weather,' stating, 'I'm thinking of your health, so drink to each other as we get into this colder weather, and we're getting dehydrated.'
Nigel Kennedy's life continues to be as eventful as his performances. He holds residences in North London, Malvern, Worcestershire, and mainly lives in the Polish countryside just outside Kraków with his artist wife, Agnieszka.
During the gig, he joked that his ponytail-wearing guitar player 'looks like my wife from behind,' adding, 'One wife is enough, especially if she's like my wife... (but) it's meant as a compliment.' His 1989 recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons sold over three million copies, establishing him at the upper echelons of the classical music world.
However, personal pain struck this year when his only son, Sark Yves Amadeus Kennedy, 25, was sentenced to more than five years in prison for his involvement as a 'vital' part of a multi-million-pound county lines drug dealing gang. The gang flooded South Worcestershire with 55 pounds of cocaine from Birmingham, and Sark was among 16 individuals jailed for a total of 96 years after a four-year police investigation.
Kennedy has a history of embracing a party lifestyle, once telling a reporter who asked if he still dabbled in class-A drugs, 'I think you should never say no to anything, because that's just, like, completely limitative.'
Kennedy has performed with an array of legendary musicians, including Paul McCartney, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.
