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The Black Lips Officially ‘Pardoned’ by All Tomorrow’s Parties

black lips pardoned atp lineup

All Tomorrow’s Parties is famous for inviting artists to cherry-pick a weekend’s worth of live music, but lesser known is the organizer’s “No Assholes” policy, which has resulted in a handful of bands getting outright banned from the well-loved festival series. How did founder Barry Hogan word it again? Oh yes, that’s right:

“Killing Joke and the Butthole Surfers will never play ATP again, and they can both suck my balls,” he told our own Christopher R. Weingarten back in 2009 for Village Voice‘s oral history of ATP. “And you can put that in print. The Black Lips will never play again—they’re assholes. They broke into a chalet and started stealing stuff.”

But the lineups for Hogan’s flagship events — the spring and summer U.K. ATP showcases in Camber Sands — were announced today and the Black Lips are back in the mix for the second weekend, June 21 to 23, curated by their Atlanta-hailing friends and neighbors in Deerhunter. Next to the offending band’s name: “(officially pardoned by ATP).”

On the Twitter account they share with Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, the Black Lips gave thanks: “we are playing this because of our good friends in Deerhunter. We will be bringing a big fat slice of humble pie.” They also shouted out their oppressed brethren: “Butthole surfers killing joke and my bloody valentine are still banned from ATP. write to ATP to get the bans lifted!”

In 2010, according to Chart Attack, Stephen Malkmus got ATP to lift its ban on Monotonix, who’d been nixed after one of their fans allegedly attacked a member of festival staff. So never say never, Hogan. And speaking of/in cliches, a fella who takes a firm stand against dickish behavior and yet offers bands his testicles in return seems like the pot calling the kettle black.

Now, on with the rest of the news: As previously announced, TV on the Radio will headline and curate May 10 to 12. “Responsible for some of the most mind-blowing, genre-exploding music of the last decade,” they will bring with: El-P, Thee Oh Sees, Shabazz Palaces, CSS, Spank Rock, Saul Williams, Tinariwen, Daniel Higgs of Lungfish, Celebration, Talibam!, and North America.

Deerhunter will play an album in full on each of their headlining dates from June 21 to 23 — Cryptograms, Microcastle, and Halcyon Digest — and frontman Bradford Cox will do a solo set as Atlas Sound. Also on that bill: Panda Bear, Avey Tare, “Animal Collective DJs,” Dan Deacon, Pere Ubu, Tim Gane, Laetitia Sadier, and No Age. Both weekend lineups are asterisked with the usual “more to be announced.”

ATP recently canceled its upcoming Tokyo showcase curated by Sonic Youth’s Jim O’Rourke, citing “the venue’s availability and scheduling problems with artists.” The concert, part of the international I’ll Be Your Mirror series, had previously been postponed from April 2012 to “late 2012” because of low ticket sales, and would have been the festival’s first venture into Japan.

The British promoters had a bit more success when ATP made its debut in Manhattan this past September with a day of music put together by Greg Dulli, of the Afghan Whigs. However, despite excellent sets from Frank Ocean, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Phillip Glass and Tyondai Braxton, and the reunited Whigs among others, attendance was thin.

See the full lineups for both weekends below. Tickets are available on ATP’s website.

All Tomorrow’s Parties: Weekend 1
Curated By TV on the Radio
 – May 10-12, 2013

TV on the Radio
Spank Rock
El-P
Saul Williams
Tinariwen
Shabazz Palaces
Thee Oh Sees
CSS
Daniel Higgs (Lungfish)
Celebration
Talibam!
North America
* Plus more to be announced

All Tomorrow’s Parties: Weekend 2
Curated By Deerhunter – June 21-23, 2013

Deerhunter (performing Cryptograms, Microcastle, Halcyon Digest)
Atlas Sound
Panda Bear
Avey Tare
Animal Collective DJs
Pere Ubu
Dan Deacon
Tim Gane
Laetitia Sadier
No Age
* Plus more to be announced

— Additional reporting by Kyle McGovern