RADIOHEAD have given their “own fans the finger” after playing their longest set since 2006 in a controversial Tel Aviv concert yesterday.
Prominent artists and activists joined fans in calling on the band to reconsider the gig in protest against Israel’s policies towards Palestinians.
Film director Ken Loach and rock-band Pink Floyd were among those to petition the band in April as part of the Artists for Palestine movement.
Frontman Thom Yorke remained unfazed by the criticism as he addressed the sell-out crowd: “A lot was said about this, but in the end we played some music.”
Israeli fans were treated to a 27-song set, concluded with two encores.
Speaking to Israel National News, Sarai Givaty, a 35-year-old musician, defended the performance.
“Everyone here in this crowd didn’t vote for [Israeli Prime Minister] Binyamin Netanyahu. They’re playing for the people, not the government,” Givaty said.
Mick Napier, a national committee member of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), believes Radiohead’s decision to go ahead with the Tel Aviv gig is a “watershed” moment, which ensured “tremendous reputational damage” to the band.
Commenting on calls from thousands of Radiohead fans for the band to cancel the trip, Napier said: “Thom Yorke hasn’t done himself any favours by giving his own fans the finger, it’s very bad PR.
“The sad thing is Thom Yorke did not seem to listen, or even seem aware, of the voices of Palestinian artists, who can’t even get near Tel Aviv because of the checkpoints. He was determined to play to a segregated audience.
“It will make other bands think carefully before playing in Israel,” he added.
Indeed, Napier revealed to The National that an up-and-coming Glasgow band – who wish to remain unnamed – recently turned down a five-figure sum to appear in Israel.
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