It's a stark comparison, one that gets to the heart of the battle between artistic expression and censored silence – Jonny Greenwood likening the cancellation of his UK concerts to "taking books off shelves". The Radiohead guitarist's words are a poignant reminder of the heavy-handed tactics employed by pro-Palestinian campaigners who forced the axe on two scheduled performances in Bristol and London, where he was set to share the stage with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa.
The fallout from these cancellations has been significant, attracting condemnation from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), in particular, welcomed the UK concert cancellations, labelling them a direct result of "peaceful BDS pressure". They also accused Dudu Tassa of acting as a "cultural ambassador for apartheid Israel" by entertaining Israeli forces.
In an interview with El País, Greenwood was asked to draw parallels between his decision to perform in Israel and the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. His response was telling: "I'm a fan of lots of Israeli films and writers and musicians, and the music I make with Dudu is resurrecting songs that are older than most of the countries that are currently fighting each other." He argued that historical and cultural preservation takes precedence over any perceived controversies.
For Greenwood, cancelling music is akin to censorship – removing an artist's voice from the public discourse. When questioned about the cancellations, he stated that the venues had received "enough credible threats" to conclude that it was no longer safe to proceed with the concerts. He also levelled criticism at the campaigners, saying their actions were a form of "censorship and silencing". Despite the cancellations being hailed as a victory by some, Greenwood remained unimpressed: "I don't find anything positive has been achieved."
This isn't the first time Radiohead members have found themselves in the firing line over performances in Israel. In 2017, the band played in Tel Aviv despite an open letter from notable figures including Roger Waters and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, urging them to cancel. At the time, Thom Yorke responded to the backlash by saying that "playing in a country isn't the same as endorsing its government."
The cultural sector continues to grapple with the implications of such boycotts, raising fundamental questions about artistic freedom, censorship, and the role of artists in political conflicts. The decision by venues to cancel the concerts has sparked a wider debate about the power dynamics at play – one that will undoubtedly continue to simmer long after the dust settles.