Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has reaffirmed his stance against performing in Israel, stating that he would "absolutely not" do so under the current government of Benjamin Netanyahu. This declaration comes eight years after the band played a show in Tel Aviv despite criticism from pro-Palestinian activists.
Yorke's comments were made during an interview with the Sunday Times magazine, which took place before this month's ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The band is set to embark on their first tour in seven years next month, playing 20 shows in five European cities.
The decision to play in Tel Aviv in 2016-2017 sparked a backlash from cultural figures such as British director Ken Loach, who criticized the band for endorsing Netanyahu's government. In response, Yorke stated that playing in Israel is not the same as endorsing the government and that he doesn't endorse any particular leader.
Yorke has previously expressed his disagreement with the pro-Palestine boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, calling it "patronising in the extreme" and "offensive". The band's stance on Israel has been a subject of controversy for years, with Yorke walking off stage during a solo gig in Australia last year after being heckled by a pro-Palestinian supporter.
Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has faced criticism from boycott advocates due to his collaborations with Israeli artists. However, the 2024 incident where Greenwood joined protests calling for Netanyahu's removal appears to have led to increased scrutiny of the band's stance on Israel.
Yorke's recent comments serve as a reminder of the ongoing tensions surrounding music and politics in the Middle East. As one of the most influential bands of their generation, Radiohead's decisions often spark intense debate and attention from fans around the world.
Yorke's comments were made during an interview with the Sunday Times magazine, which took place before this month's ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The band is set to embark on their first tour in seven years next month, playing 20 shows in five European cities.
The decision to play in Tel Aviv in 2016-2017 sparked a backlash from cultural figures such as British director Ken Loach, who criticized the band for endorsing Netanyahu's government. In response, Yorke stated that playing in Israel is not the same as endorsing the government and that he doesn't endorse any particular leader.
Yorke has previously expressed his disagreement with the pro-Palestine boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, calling it "patronising in the extreme" and "offensive". The band's stance on Israel has been a subject of controversy for years, with Yorke walking off stage during a solo gig in Australia last year after being heckled by a pro-Palestinian supporter.
Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has faced criticism from boycott advocates due to his collaborations with Israeli artists. However, the 2024 incident where Greenwood joined protests calling for Netanyahu's removal appears to have led to increased scrutiny of the band's stance on Israel.
Yorke's recent comments serve as a reminder of the ongoing tensions surrounding music and politics in the Middle East. As one of the most influential bands of their generation, Radiohead's decisions often spark intense debate and attention from fans around the world.
... and don't even get me started on the BDS movement - it's all so bloody complicated... can't we just agree to disagree without being so... confrontational? 
meanwhile, Radiohead is about to embark on a massive tour and I'm just over here wondering when they'll announce whether or not Jonny Greenwood will be playing with Israeli musicians 
... I mean, I get why Thom Yorke doesn't want to play in Israel under Netanyahu's government, but what really bothered me is when he said he'd "absolutely not" do it... like, what's the plan then? 
Will they just cancel all their shows or something?
Why can't Radiohead just play in Israel and have a show without it being a huge controversy? 
... I don't get why his collaborations with Israeli artists are always getting slammed by boycott advocates. Can't people just appreciate good music for once? 
this whole boycott thing is so complicated can't we just focus on making good music instead? i mean i get where he's coming from, no one likes being asked to endorse or condone something they don't believe in but come on 20 shows in europe next month who cares about the politics 
Thom Yorke is totally right to stick by his guns on not performing in Israel 
I mean, I get that it's a super sensitive topic for a lot of people, but you can't just write off your values because someone else might be offended 
. It's all about being true to who you are and what you believe in, even if it means going against the crowd 
Radiohead has always been known for pushing boundaries and challenging their fans' perspectives, so I'm loving this stance from Thom 
. And let's be real, if the BDS movement was "patronising in the extreme" and "offensive", then Radiohead's involvement in it was probably even more so... but hey, at least they're consistent, right? 
it's a super sensitive topic, right? and honestly, his stance kinda makes sense considering how politics can be really complicated 
but at the same time, i feel for jonny greenwood when he collaborates with artists from israel - he's not trying to offend anyone, just making music 
what i wish ppl could do is have a calm conversation about this stuff, you know? no need to get all worked up or hate on someone for having a differing opinion 
. Fingers crossed they'll finally make a live album 
like, can't they just play their shows and not rock the boat? 
eight years after that one show in tel aviv and now hes still saying no to performing with netanyahu under his gov... what changed? 