Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, left the stage during a solo performance in Melbourne on Wednesday night after being heckled by a protester advocating for Palestine.
Video footage from the concert captured a man in the audience yelling at Yorke about the situation in Gaza, mentioning the death toll and the impact on children. Yorke responded by inviting the protester to come up on stage and express his views directly, calling out the individual for ruining the concert atmosphere.
After the protester continued to challenge Yorke, questioning his stance on the situation in Gaza, Yorke decided to leave the stage momentarily. However, he returned a few minutes later to perform the final song of the evening, Karma Police.
The incident occurred towards the end of the concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, part of Yorke’s Everything tour featuring a mix of his solo work and songs from Radiohead and the Smile. Yorke is set to perform at the Sydney Opera House forecourt on November 1st and 2nd.
Yorke has faced criticism in the past for his opposition to the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and his decision to perform in Israel. Radiohead performed in Tel Aviv in 2017 despite calls for a boycott, with Yorke defending the band’s choice by stating that playing in a country does not equate to endorsing its government.
The band has a strong connection to Israel, as evidenced by the success of their early hit Creep on Israeli radio and their numerous performances in the country over the years. However, pressure to boycott Israel has increased, with Radiohead and Jonny Greenwood facing criticism for playing in Tel Aviv with Israeli artists.
Greenwood, who has collaborated with Israeli musicians in the past and is married to an Israeli artist, expressed disappointment at the backlash, emphasizing the importance of artistic expression and dialogue in resolving conflicts.