Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood Condemns ‘Censorship’ After Concerts with Israeli Musician Dudu Tassa Canceled Due to Threats
Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Israeli musician Dudu Tassa have released a joint statement condemning what they call "censorship" and "intimidation" after two of their UK concerts were canceled. The shows, scheduled for June at Bristol Beacon's Lantern Hall and London's Hackney Church, were pulled after venues cited "credible threats," highlighting the growing tensions surrounding artistic expression in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The concerts were intended to support their collaborative album, 'Jarak Qaribak,' released in 2023, featuring Arabic love songs recorded across the Middle East, Tel Aviv, and Oxfordshire. However, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (Pacbi), a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, celebrated the cancellations, arguing that the performances would have "whitewashed" the war in Gaza.
Greenwood and Tassa's statement pushes back against this narrative. "Forcing musicians not to perform and denying people who want to hear them an opportunity to do so is self-evidently a method of censorship and silencing," they wrote. "Intimidating venues into pulling our shows won’t help achieve the peace and justice everyone in the Middle East deserves. This cancellation will be hailed as a victory by the campaigners behind it, but we see nothing to celebrate and don’t find that anything positive has been achieved."
The duo emphasized the inclusive nature of their project, which features singers from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, and Iraq. They argue that art should transcend politics and foster understanding across borders, rather than becoming a victim of ideological divides. They voiced frustration at being "condemned by both ends of the political spectrum," with some seeing their music as too inclusive and others accusing them of using it to absolve themselves of collective sins.
The statement also drew a parallel to the recent controversy surrounding Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have faced calls for their shows to be canceled due to alleged support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Greenwood and Tassa remarked on the irony of those supporting Kneecap's artistic freedom being the same individuals restricting theirs. Quoting the artist’s statement expressing “opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom”, Greenwood and Tassa said: “We have no judgement to pass on Kneecap but note how sad it is that those supporting their freedom of expression are the same ones most determined to restrict ours.”
This incident underscores the complex challenges artists face when navigating politically charged environments. It raises questions about the role of art in promoting dialogue and understanding, and the responsibility of venues and promoters in ensuring artistic freedom in the face of threats and pressure.
What are your thoughts on the cancellation of these concerts? Should artistic expression be protected regardless of political context? Share your opinions in the comments below.
