Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has compared the cancellation of his shows due to pro-Palestinian boycotts to taking books off shelves. The comments came in an interview with El País following pressure that led to the cancellation of two UK performances.
Greenwood made the remarks while discussing his performances in Israel with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa. The pair played in Tel Aviv in May 2024 and March 2025, drawing criticism from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Two UK shows scheduled for Bristol and London in June 2025 were cancelled after pressure from campaigners. Greenwood said in the interview that he values Israeli films, writers and musicians, adding that cancelling music is the same as removing books from shelves.
At the time of the cancellations, Greenwood stated that venues had received credible threats making it unsafe to proceed. He described the actions as a form of censorship that would not help achieve peace in the Middle East.
The controversy echoes earlier backlash against Radiohead, including protests over a 2017 Tel Aviv show and comments from band members on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
