After the cancellation of two UK performances with the Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood has said that they “dread the weaponisation of this cancellation by reactionary figures as much as we lament its celebration by some progressives”.
In a statement, Greenwood and Tassa said that venues in London and Bristol as well as “their blameless staff” had received enough credible threats to conclude that it was not safe to proceed with the gigs.
“Intimidating venues into pulling our shows won’t help achieve the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves,” they said. “This cancellation will be hailed as a victory by the campaigners behind it, but we see nothing to celebrate and don’t find that anything positive has been achieved.”
The two shows were due to take place in June in support of the duo’s 2023 album Jarak Qaribak, which translates as Your Neighbour Is Your Friend. The record features Arabic love songs and was recorded in Tel Aviv, Oxfordshire and across the Middle East. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement, described the planned events as “artwashing genocide” and welcomed their cancellation.
Greenwood and Tassa accused the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign – known as BDS – of having it “both ways”.
“The campaign which has successfully stopped the concerts insist that ‘this is not censorship’ and ‘this isn’t about silencing music or attacking individual artists’ … Forcing musicians not to perform and denying people who want to hear them an opportunity to do so is self-evidently a method of censorship and silencing.”
Greenwood and Tassa highlighted the heritage of the performers, among them singers from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq. “The silencing campaign has demanded that the venues ‘reaffirm (their) commitment to ethical, inclusive cultural programming’,” they said. “Just not this particular mix of cultures, apparently.”
They lamented the corner they had found themselves in politically. “For some on the right, we’re playing the ‘wrong’ kind of music – too inclusive, too aware of the rich and beautiful diversity of Middle Eastern culture. For some on the left, we’re only playing it to absolve ourselves of our collective sins.”
They said “meekly agreeing to be silenced without some response feels wrong” and drew contrasts with recent music industry support for Irish rap trio Kneecap in the face of censorship and moral panic. “We have no judgment to pass on Kneecap but note how sad it is that those supporting their freedom of expression are the same ones most determined to restrict ours.”
They praised the bravery of the performers in the band for their conviction in touring with them. “Their artistic achievements are toweringly important, and we hope one day you will get to hear us play these songs – love songs mostly – together with us, somewhere, somehow. If that happens, it won’t be a victory for any country, religion, or political cause. It’ll be a victory for our shared love and respect of the music – and of each other.”
In 2024, Greenwood and Tassa performed in Tel Aviv. At the time, PACBI called for “peaceful, creative pressure on … Radiohead to convincingly distance itself from this blatant complicity in the crime of crimes, or face grassroots measures”.
At the time, Greenwood said in response: “I think an artistic project that combines Arab and Jewish musicians is worthwhile. And one that reminds everyone that the Jewish cultural roots in countries like Iraq and Yemen go back for thousands of years, is also important.”
He added that he could not join any call to silence art made by Israeli Jews, calling it “unprogressive … Not least because it’s these people that are invariably the most progressive members of any society.”
Greenwood’s wife, artist Sharona Katan, is Israeli. Their nephew was killed in 2024 while serving in the Israeli Defence Force.
Radiohead have a long history with Israel. Their 1992 debut single Creep first became a success on Israeli radio after initially failing to break through elsewhere, and the band have continued to perform in the country throughout their career, despite protests from fans and activists.The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide. Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.
ziocunt from radiohead complains about "silencing"..IDF loving Dudu Tassa...
Aww, poor little peace loving artists who are striving for "shared love and respect of the music – and of each other.” Fuck them!
quote: Top Israeli musicians to perform for IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza srael's leading musicians will enter Israeli bases and tactical assembly areas across the country to perform for IDF soldiers taking part in operational activities, the Defense and Culture and Sports ministries announced Thursday morning.
As per a joint statement from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar, some 140 popular musicians and stand-up comedians will perform for active duty soldiers starting this week, as part of a NIS 4 million project named "Stronger Than the Wind."
Some of the performing artists will include Ravid Plotnik, Dudu Tassa, Eviatar Banai and Ishay Ribo. The performances will be coordinated by the IDF's Operations Directorate, the statement read.
Tosh. He crossed a picket line and is now facing consequences. That's not censorship. He's got some front comparing it to the Kneecap case. They've got all the power interests baying for their blood; Greenwood et al clearly have the support of the elites, hence being allowed to whine at length in the pages of the graun. 'Intimidating venues into pulling our shows won’t help achieve the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves' - Israelis certainly deserve justice, they certainly don't deserve peace - unless they actually did something to oppose this genocide. But it appears that kind of 'progressive' is vanishingly rare in the apartheid entity. I expect a majority of Greenwood's audiences in Tel Aviv are in favour of the genocide, and him playing for them merely confirms that the west still doesn't view their attitude as beyond the pale.
Which is about as braindead a thing to say as you can imagine. He has chosen the side of the oppressor. At least the twitter comments are savaging him for it, eg:
*****
Lonelyspeck @lonelyspeck "those supporting [Kneecap's] freedom of expression are the same ones determined to restrict ours"
the difference is Kneecap vocally support Palestine while you beat around the issue with vague terms like "across the Middle East" in order to reserve support for their oppressors
Crow @DJECROW You continue to dance skillfully around having to mention any stance on the current genocide and that is disturbing. Radiohead have built a fan base on “for the people” idiologies for the past two decades and you act surprised people are disappointed.
mun 🔆 PULP IN 🇨🇵 @hekirakun Lots of words again and still you are forgetting to talk about WHY this really happens
BlueSR @BlueGoesFast You’re dodging around the issue. The thing people are actually critisizing is that Tassa played in IDF bases for soldiers actively conducting a genocide on invitation of a war criminal minister. Your fans want to hear you condemn the IDF’s atrocities and war crimes, that’s all.
𖤐 Outer Kevin 𖤐 ~ 🇮🇪 🇵🇸∞ @BagOfSchlime Oh well
*SPⒶCE GORE-TEX_ @X3866597455761 success turns all of your heroes into mouth pieces for state violence
ann💐 @holafuriosa 🍉🍉🍉
misspg @firefly7707 Why even put up this wall of text? It's easy not being a zionist. FREE PALESTINE TODAY AND ALWAYS sunshine girl
@raeonyxlove Free Palestine
Politics Theory Other @poltheoryother "Intimidating venues into pulling our shows won't help achieve the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves." - Dudu Tassa has given morale boosting performances at IDF bases to an army conducting a genocide: jpost.com/breaking-news/arti… Top Israeli musicians to perform for IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza Israel's leading musicians will enter Israeli bases and tactical assembly areas across the country to perform jpost.com
luan @PSpecterLitt whatever hoe, free Palestine
el pelu @LeaaMarquez Sos un pelotudo.
x - em 🩷🍉 @captainc0oter
[image: 'i ain't reading all that free palestine']
hotton @hotton_machado 1h Replying to @JnnyG Que pataquada! Falou muito e só se esquivou
John Aziz @aziz0nomics You're still one of my favourite guitarists of all time; peace will come when we talk to one another and make peace. It won't come from blind boycotting.
misspg @firefly7707 Free Palestine
andrew @mrnastynodrama Time to put down the guitar and get a real job Jonny
Joseph K Bennett @JosephKBennett That’s nice, free Palestine and fuck you and your weird named mate
marcello @soulnessless Again with the music is universal fairytale bullshit, music is always political, especially where and who you play with
1 Ford F 150 vs 100 Deer @tom_on_here Dudu went doodoo
Isaac @Isaac_Valdes Free Palestine
Naerrisch @naerrisch The boycott is not about any one person, but your horrible politics and the politics of those you associate with. You know it, we know it. Own up to it.
Andrew Gold @AndrewGold_ok Jonny I’m a huge fan. Would you come on Heretics to discuss?
Bob Saginowski @PiiteS The artists are not above the history.
repressed homosexual stephen stills @neilyoungmpreg free palestine shut the fuck up
marc @marcsebastiaa So sad to see one of your music idols turn into a piece of shit, constantly justifying a genocidal country. Infinite respect for your work in radiohead, but as a person you've become what you were fighting against 20 years ago with your music.
JenEvette69 @JenEvette69 never heard anyone ever say too inclusive.
Paul Griffin @paulgriffinfilm I notice that in any and all of your statements you never, ever say Palestine, Palestinians or anything anywhere near close to that, never speaking about their struggles. This is everything that is wrong with you and @thomyorke. You deny Palestinian existence.
Youssef Shoieb @youssefaly22 while you make pretty speeches i’m being cut to shreds
like spinning played - radiohead..
stop tiptoeing around the issue
Brian @Bashearoonbars Jonny, Honestly go fuck yourself, and your records.
Dead right though. Little by little, it's building. Eventually that dam is going to break and once the rats start running for cover when they see the winds direction changing it will accelerate. I really hope so anyway. I'm clinging on to the idea of ultimate retribution for these disgusting maniacs and their morally repugnant supporters.
It's like Jonathon Cook said in his excellent article posted by K264...above, or below, recently anyway, these people (he was referring to Schama and that other shit-gibbon) need to be shamed not accomodated.
The corporate media are complicit in the Gaza genocide. Never forget what they did. Never forgive them for it.
"Eventually that dam is going to break"...I so hope I am still around to see that! (nm)
on May 6, 2025, 11:59 am