Latest news with #Yorke
Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Thom Yorke has exposed the intolerance of the ‘pro-Palestine' set
Thom Yorke has done us all a great service by exposing how unhinged, intolerant and, frankly, bigoted much of the supposedly 'pro-Palestine' set is. The Radiohead frontman and bandmate Jonny Greenwood have for years now been locked in a bitter beef with Israelophobic fans and fellow musicians, due to their dogged refusal to treat Israelis like moral lepers and insistence on still playing to – and with – them. In 2017, Radiohead ploughed ahead with a big tour show in Tel Aviv, despite outrage from all the usual suspects. Roger Waters even called Yorke a 'prick', which I suppose would only really sting if you subscribed to the old adage 'it takes one to know one'. Yorke's perfectly rational, liberal argument – 'we don't endorse Netanyahu any more than Trump, but we still play in America' – fell on deaf ears among those who see Israelis as uniquely, collectively, responsible for the actions of their political leaders. He walked
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Thom Yorke reveals ‘heavy' mental health toll after walking off stage during Melbourne show over silence on Gaza
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has revealed his mental health suffered a heavy blow after he stormed offstage during a solo show in Melbourne last October when he was heckled by a pro-Palestine protester. Yorke on Saturday posted an eight-page statement on Instagram about the war in Gaza, saying he remained in shock that his 'supposed silence' was perceived by some as complicity with Israel. In the post he also called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu an extremist. Footage filmed of the fiery exchange on October 31, taken by a member of the audience during the encore of Yorke's second show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, showed a man in the crowd yelling about the 'Israeli genocide of Gaza' and the devastating death toll. Yorke responded: 'Hop up on the f---ing stage and say what you wanna say. Don't stand there like a coward, come here and say it. You want to piss on everybody's night? OK, you do it, see you later then.' The audience member screamed, in part, 'How many dead children will it take for you to condemn the genocide in Gaza?' In the statement, the musician directly addressed the incident, saying 'some guy shouting at me from the dark last year … didn't really seem like the best moment to discuss the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.' Yorke said his silence had been an attempt to show respect for all those who were suffering and those who had died during the conflict. However, he said this had allowed 'opportunistic groups to use intimidation and defamation to fill in the blanks'.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Thom Yorke reveals ‘heavy' mental health toll after walking off stage during Melbourne show over silence on Gaza
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has revealed his mental health suffered a heavy blow after he stormed offstage during a solo show in Melbourne last October when he was heckled by a pro-Palestine protester. Yorke on Saturday posted an eight-page statement on Instagram about the war in Gaza, saying he remained in shock that his 'supposed silence' was perceived by some as complicity with Israel. In the post he also called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu an extremist. Footage filmed of the fiery exchange on October 31, taken by a member of the audience during the encore of Yorke's second show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, showed a man in the crowd yelling about the 'Israeli genocide of Gaza' and the devastating death toll. Yorke responded: 'Hop up on the f---ing stage and say what you wanna say. Don't stand there like a coward, come here and say it. You want to piss on everybody's night? OK, you do it, see you later then.' The audience member screamed, in part, 'How many dead children will it take for you to condemn the genocide in Gaza?' In the statement, the musician directly addressed the incident, saying 'some guy shouting at me from the dark last year … didn't really seem like the best moment to discuss the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.' Yorke said his silence had been an attempt to show respect for all those who were suffering and those who had died during the conflict. However, he said this had allowed 'opportunistic groups to use intimidation and defamation to fill in the blanks'.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Imagine Dragons sparks debate after waving Palestinian flag during Italy show
Imagine Dragons recently sparked outrage with a political stunt during their concert in Milan, Italy. On Tuesday, the band's frontman, Dan Reynolds, picked up a Palestinian flag, waved it before draping it across his shoulders. Video clips of the controversial act have since gone viral on social media, with netizens comparing it to Radiohead's confrontation with an anti-Israel protester mid-show last year. In the viral clips, Reynolds is also seen kissing the Palestinian flag before tossing it back to the crowd. The move sparked severe debate among netizens. While pro-Palestinian supporters applauded the move, Jewish fans criticised the 37-year-old singer. Comedian Matt Lieb wrote, 'Omg radiohead has now been lapped by IMAGINE DRAGONS?!?' While a pro-Palestinian fan wrote, 'Very nice to see more people showing support.' 'imagine dragons once again proving they're the best at everything EXCEPT music,' yet another said. 'Wow. The worst band to ever exist is far better than Radiohead. Incredible,' one more fan added, referring to the English rock band's controversial statement during a Melbourne show in October 2024. At the time, a heckler called on the band to 'condemn the Israeli genocide of Gaza.' Lead singer Thom Yorke fumed, urging the protester to 'come up here and say that. right now.' 'Come up on the f---ing stage and say what you want to say,' Yorke challenged as the audience cheered. 'Don't stand there like a coward. Come here and say it. You want to p--- on everyone's night? C'mon,' the 56-year-old added. But the protester did not accept Yorke's challenge, leaving him annoyed. 'Okay, you do. See you later then,' he said before storming off the stage as the crowd booed. However, the rock singer returned after the protester was removed by security.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Thom Yorke calls Netanyahu an ‘extremist' who ‘needs to be stopped' after being criticised for ‘silence'
Yorke issued a lengthy eight-page statement on the war in Gaza, in which he also decried Hamas for 'choosing to hide behind the suffering of its people'. His comments arrive months after Yorke walked offstage when he was heckled by a pro-Palestine protester during a solo show in Melbourne. Footage filmed by a member of the audience in October 2024 showed a man in the crowd yelling at Yorke about the 'Israeli genocide of Gaza' and the death toll, half of whom he said 'were children'. Yorke could be seen standing and listening before removing his guitar and leaving the stage. He returned shortly after the incident to play Radiohead's 1997 song 'Karma Police.' The musician, who has also come under scrutiny in the past over his decision to continue performing in Israel, has now shared a statement on the incident. Addressing being heckled, he said the concert 'didn't really seem like the best moment to discuss the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza'. Yorke added that, once the show had ended, he' remained in shock that my supposed silence was somehow being taken as complicity, and I struggled to find an adequate way to respond to this and to carry on with the rest of the shows on the tour'. Yorke wrote: 'That silence, my attempt to show respect for all those who are suffering and those who have died, and to not trivialise it in a few words, has allowed other opportunistic groups to use intimidation and defamation to fill in the blanks, and I regret giving them this chance. This has had a heavy toll on my mental health.' The musician said his music was 'evidence' that he 'could not possibly support any form of extremism or dehumanisation of others', before adding: 'I think Netanyahu and his crew of extremists are totally out of control and need to be stopped, and that the international community should put all the pressure it can on them to cease. 'Their excuse of self-defence has long since worn thin and has been replaced by a transparent desire to take control of Gaza and the West Bank permanently.' The remainder of his statement is below: 'I believe this ultra-nationalist administration has hidden itself behind a terrified & grieving people and used them to deflect any criticism, using that fear and grief to further their ultra-nationalist agenda with terrible consequences, as we see now with the horrific blockade of aid to Gaza … 'At the same time the unquestioning Free Palestine refrain that surrounds us all does not answer the simple question of why the hostages have still not all been returned? For what possible reason? 'Why did Hamas choose the truly horrific acts of October 7th? The answer seems obvious, and I believe Hamas chooses too to hide behind the suffering of its people, in an equally cynical fashion for their own purposes.' Yorke shared the statement on Instagram with the caption: 'For those who need to know.. let me fill in the blanks.' The band's history with Israel goes back to their debut single, 'Creep', which received widespread airplay on Israeli radio stations after initially failing to make an impact elsewhere. They played Tel Aviv in 2017, in defiance of the pro-Palestine campaign by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Responding to criticism from British director and BDS supporter Ken Loach, who wrote an op-ed for The Independent urging Radiohead to join the boycott, Yorke said: 'Playing in a country isn't the same as endorsing the government. 'We've played in Israel for over 20 years through a succession of governments, some more liberal than others. As we have in America. We don't endorse [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu any more than [Donald] Trump, but we still play in America.
