Radiohead fans are hoping the band are “prepared for the inevitable” with their upcoming tour.
The band will play their first shows since 2018, with a total of 20 shows planned across Europe. Fans believe there may be some controversy at a handful of Radiohead shows, with a post to the r/Radiohead subreddit discussing what problems the group could face. One major problem was the “flag-waving and shouting” which may come during the “quieter numbers.” Thom Yorke was heckled at a solo gig in Melbourne where he was asked: “How could you be silent?” regarding the death toll in Gaza. Yorke would briefly leave the stage before returning to finish the set. Fans believe there will be further heckles calling for the band to denounce Israel.
Yorke did release a statement in May this year, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an “extremist”. Yorke said: “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“Their excuse of self-defence has long since worn thin and has been replaced by a transparent desire to take control of Gaza and the West Bank permanently. 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.”
Yorke would later ask why Hamas carried out the “truly horrific acts of October 7” later in his statement. He added: “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.”
Fans believe Yorke and the rest of the band could face some protests from attendees of the upcoming Radiohead shows in November. One fan wrote: “Now that they are playing live, let’s face it, the inevitable will happen. One or more of these shows will have ‘an incident’ with some flag-waving and shouting, most probably happening during the quieter numbers.
“If Thom ‘takes the bait’, it will happen a lot more. Just play a louder song next, and keep them coming. (I say this as someone with the greatest sympathy for the Palestinian cause – it just doesn’t help the cause. It doesn’t.)”
Fans are split on whether anything will happen at the gigs regarding a protest of the band, which played Tel Aviv in 2017. Yorke said at the time performing in the country does not mean agreeing with the politics, but some fans remain unconvinced. Jonny Greenwood would also perform with Dadu in May 2024
One wrote: “I’m honestly not here to argue and I’m a massive Radiohead fan, but do you not see a problem with the shows Johnny played in May 2024 in Tel Aviv with Dadu, whilst the very same night, hundreds of innocent Palestinians were burnt and bombed in tents just some miles away by the very same people he was playing for.
“Yes, IDF soldiers were in attendance of the show Johnny played. People forget the IDF is mandatory. It just doesn’t sit right with me at all. People are quick to keep talking about Thom, but to be honest, my issues almost lay entirely with Johnny. playing shows in Tel Aviv in the middle of what humanitarian law has ruled as a genocide, is beyond wrong.”
Another added: “It’ll probably be like last time when that brave protester waited till the last song of the night, cos he has morals, but also doesn’t want to get kicked out at the start.” A third suggested: “If Radiohead is supposedly so bad that you have to boycott them, showing up at their concert to protest is the dumbest possible course of action.
“It makes you look like an idiot who cares more about attention than your morals, and it ruins the night of everyone around you, plus you are down like $100 assuming you live close enough to not have to pay to travel to the concert.”
Tickets for the upcoming show will be priced from £75 according to the band, with a £1 charity donation either “added to, or included in, the ticket price.” The band confirmed: “In London the donation will go to the LIVE Trust and in the rest of Europe it will go to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) – this amount may be subject to unavoidable taxes.”
Discover more from Cult Following
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
