Jonny Greenwood Compares Boycott-Led Show Cancellations to Censorship

Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood has publicly addressed the cancellation of his recent UK tour dates, drawing a sharp comparison between the pressure from boycott campaigns and the act of “taking books off shelves.”

The musician, who has faced significant scrutiny for his collaborative work with Israeli artist Dudu Tassa, saw his scheduled performances in Bristol and London last year cancelled following intense pressure from pro-Palestinian activists. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) had targeted the duo, citing their perceived role in “whitewashing” the situation in Gaza.

In a recent interview with El País, Greenwood defended his artistic choices, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange. “I’m a fan of lots of Israeli films and writers and musicians, and the music I make with Dudu is resurrecting songs that are older than most of the countries that are currently fighting each other,” he stated. “That’s always going to be more important to me. There are bookshops in Madrid that are openly selling Amos Oz’s novels and he’s Israeli. To me, cancelling music is the same as taking books off shelves.”

Greenwood had previously issued a statement at the time of the cancellations, noting that the venues involved had received credible threats, making it unsafe to proceed. He argued that forcing musicians to withdraw from performances is a form of censorship that ultimately fails to achieve the peace and justice sought by campaigners.

The controversy is the latest in a long history of tension surrounding Radiohead and their stance on performing in Israel. In 2017, the band faced similar pressure to cancel a show in Tel Aviv, with figures such as Roger Waters and Thurston Moore among those calling for a boycott. At the time, Thom Yorke famously defended the band’s decision, stating that playing in a country does not equate to endorsing its government.

The discourse surrounding the band has remained heated, with Yorke recently expressing the heavy toll these public confrontations have taken on his mental health. Despite the ongoing backlash, the band members have maintained that their music should not be used as a tool for political exclusion.