The Radiohead frontman was angry with an audience member who asked him to take a stance on the conflict
Thom Yorke left the stage during his own show in Melboune, Australia, this Wednesday, the 30th, after a member of the audience mentioned the war between Israel and Palestine. The protester shouted: “Israeli genocide in Gaza! How can you remain silent in the face of conflict?”
The vocalist of Radiohead and The Smilethen asked the fan to come on stage to speak to him face to face. “Come up here and say this,” asked the musician. “Right here! Come on! Come here to the f*cking stage and say what you want to say!”
When left unanswered, Yorke he stated before leaving the stage: “Do you want to ruin everyone’s night? Okay, you do. See you later then.” As reported by the public (via People), the artist returned shortly afterwards to play “Karma Police”, a hit by Radiohead.
Controversies
Johnny Greenwoodguitarist of Radiohead and the The Smileperformed in Israel alongside Israeli musician Dudu Tassa in June this year. The duo performed tracks from the collaborative album Jarak Qaribakreleased last year.
The show would have taken place the day after Greenwood participated in protests calling for the freedom of alleged Israeli hostages held in Gaza. He would also have spoken out in favor of new elections and against the Israeli government (via NME).
During the performance in Tel Aviv, fans chanted for peace, while Tassa stated: “There are musicians here, not politicians. Music has always worked, may we live better days and return safely.”
The wife of Greenwood, Sharona Katanis Israeli. One of his relatives served in the Israeli army and lost his life during the war against Palestine.
@makzym8 Melbourne night 2. Guy then got by the Karma Police #radiohead#thomyorke#melbourne♬ original sound – Maxim
Reviews
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has spoken out, calling for “peaceful and creative pressure on their band Radiohead to convincingly distance themselves from this blatant complicity in the crime of crimes.”
PACBI further noted that, while Greenwood protested, Israel was bombing Palestinians in Rafah.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
