Radio’s Johnny Greenwood says shows canceled after ‘reliable threats’
London: Johnny Greenwood of Radiohad said on Tuesday that two of his upcoming shows were canceled due to “reliable threats” with Israeli -born Rock composer Dudu Tasa.
Guitarists and keyboards were due to performing two dates with TASA in the Western English city of Bristol and London in June.
The Palestinian activist movement, who advocated political and economic action against Israel on its treatment of Palestinians, welcomed the announcement.
The PACBI-BDS movement, which campaigned against the performance, welcome Palestinians to cancel both our UK shows to deny this complex event.
Announcing the ax of the show, Greenwood, Tassa and their musicians stated that “Venue and their guilty employees have sufficient credible threats to conclude that it is not safe to move forward”.
The letter posted on X states that the decision “will be distinguished by campaigners as a win … but we do not see anything to celebrate and get nothing positive”.
“Forcing musicians to demonstrate and deny those who want to hear the opportunity to do them, they are a method of censorship and silenting in the self-realization,” it said.
“We believe that art exists above and beyond … The artists should be free to express themselves regardless of their citizenship or their religion – and of course, regardless of the decisions made by their governments,” said this.
The letter comes after the Irish rappers that Kandap had canceled many concerts.
The British Counter Terrorism Police launched an online video of the Irish band last week as it refused to support Hamas and Hizbullah or incite violence against the UK politicians.
Police investigations came in the form of about 40 other groups and artists, rally around Kneecap with a joint statement, stating that “as artists, we feel the need to record our opposition for any political oppression of artistic freedom”.
Greenwood and his fellow musicians said: “We have no decision to pass on Kneecap, but note how sad it is that people supporting the freedom of expression are the ones who are the most firm for our ban.”
The radiohad performed in 2017 despite urging to cancel as part of a cultural boycott at Tel Aviv.
York wrote on Twitter at that time, “Playing in a country is not the same as supporting its government.”
He said, “We have played in Israel for more than 20 years through the succession of governments, some more liberal than others. As we have in America,” he said.
He said, “We do not support Netanyahu more than Trump, but we still play in America,” he said.
