Thom Yorke, the lead singer of the legendary band Radiohead, has said that he will no longer perform in Israel — a clear shift from the band’s controversial decision to play in Tel Aviv eight years ago, despite widespread criticism from pro-Palestinian activists.
“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime,” Yorke told The Sunday Times Magazine, referencing Israel’s prime minister and his government.
The interview, conducted before the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, comes as Radiohead prepare to embark on their first tour in seven years, with 20 shows scheduled across five European cities. Even before the tour dates were announced, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) urged fans to boycott the band, citing guitarist Jonny Greenwood’s performance in Tel Aviv in 2024.
Radiohead’s 2016–2018 A Moon Shaped Pool tour stirred major backlash after the group performed in Israel, defying calls from figures like director Ken Loach to cancel. At the time, Yorke defended the move, arguing on X (formerly Twitter): “Playing in a country isn’t the same as endorsing its government. We’ve played in Israel for over 20 years… We don’t endorse Netanyahu any more than we endorsed Trump, but we still play in America.”
Yorke, who once called the BDS movement “patronising” and “offensive,” now appears to view that decision differently. He recalled feeling “horrified” when a “clearly connected high-up” Israeli official thanked the band personally for their 2017 performance.
The band’s connection to Israel has remained a source of tension. Last year, Yorke briefly walked off stage during a solo concert in Australia after an activist accused him of staying silent on Gaza. He later issued a statement condemning Netanyahu’s government as “extremists who need to be stopped.”
Meanwhile, Greenwood — whose wife is Israeli — has continued to face scrutiny for his collaborations with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa, though he has also joined anti-Netanyahu protests in Israel. “I’m not ashamed of working with Arab and Jewish musicians,” he told The Sunday Times, adding that he still spends significant time there with his family.