Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood says UK shows cancelled because of credible threats

Radiohead musician Jonny Greenwood has said his forthcoming UK shows were cancelled because of “credible threats”.

The guitarist and keyboardist has collaborated with Israeli-born rock musician Dudu Tassa for more than a decade, and the pair were due to perform at Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall and London’s Hackney Church in June, after releasing the record Jarak Qaribak in 2023.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (Pacbi), a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, welcomed the axing of the gigs.

It had launched a campaign for the venues to cancel the dates, claiming the duo’s performances “would have whitewashed” the war in the Gaza Strip.

The campaigners said that Greenwood and Tassa’s claims were “unsubstantiated” and were an attempt to divert attention from their links to Israel’s cultural community.

On Tuesday, a letter from Greenwood, Tassa and their musicians said: “The venues and their blameless staff have received enough credible threats to conclude that it’s not safe to proceed. Promoters of the shows can’t be expected to fund our, or our audience’s, protection.”

The letter added that the “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”.

It went on: “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.

“We believe art exists above and beyond politics; that art that seeks to establish the common identity of musicians across borders in the Middle East should be encouraged, not decried; and that artists should be free to express themselves regardless of their citizenship or their religion – and certainly regardless of the decisions made by their governments.”

The musicians said their touring show also features singers from Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq, with “each of the members brought together by a shared love of Arabic song, regardless of where exactly they all happened to be born”.

“We find ourselves in the odd position of being condemned by both ends of the political spectrum,” they added.

“For some on the right, we’re playing the ‘wrong’ kind of music – too inclusive, too aware of the rich and beautiful diversity of Middle Eastern culture. For some on the left, we’re only playing it to absolve ourselves of our collective sins.

“We dread the weaponisation of this cancellation by reactionary figures as much as we lament its celebration by some progressives.”

They also cited artists defending Northern Irish rappers Kneecap, saying they “feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom”, after the trio were criticised when one member appeared to call for Tory MPs to be killed.

“We have no judgment 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.

“We agree completely with people who ask ‘How can this be more important than what’s happening in Gaza and Israel?’ They’re right – it isn’t. How could it be? What, in anyone’s upcoming cultural life, is?”

They said their Arab musicians, singers and music are “toweringly important”, and if they get to play together again it will be a “victory for our shared love and respect of the music – and of each other”.

Greenwood, also a two-time Oscar-nominated composer, was criticised by pro-Palestinian groups last year for performing in Tel Aviv amid the war in Gaza.

Radiohead had performed at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv in 2017, when the group’s frontman, Thom Yorke, reportedly told the crowd: “A lot was said about this, but in the end we played some music.”

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Paul Weller and Primal Scream are among the artists who have have opposed politicians calling for Kneecap to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up.

Videos of a member of Kneecap allegedly saying “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP” in November 2023 and another of one of the group appearing to shout “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” in November 2024 are being investigated by counter-terrorism officers.

The Diocese of London said: “Hackney Church was informed last Friday by the promoter that the event wouldn’t be going ahead and was instructed by the promoter to inform those who had bought tickets that they would receive a full refund.”

A spokeswoman for Pacbi said: “Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa have turned to unsubstantiated claims, attempting to divert attention from this ongoing complicity.”

The statement added their pressure was “peaceful”, and also said: “Tens of thousands of artists, writers and cultural workers and a growing number of arts organisations have publicly endorsed the cultural boycott of Israel’s complicit cultural sector, as called for by Pacbi more than two decades ago.”

Bristol Beacon, Avon and Somerset Police, and the Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.