LONDON: Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has said in a British newspaper interview he would not now perform in Israel, eight years after the band defied pro-Palestinian activists to play a Tel Aviv gig. “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime,” he told The Sunday Times Magazine, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The interview with members of the British band — whose UK No. 1 albums include “OK Computer” and “Kid A” — took place before this month’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The band begin their first tour in seven years next month, playing 20 shows in five European cities.
Radiohead's 2016-2018 “A Moon Shaped Pool” world tour ignited a backlash when the group performed in Tel Aviv despite boycott calls.
Yorke hinted at some regret over the decision in the new interview, saying he was “horrified” when a “clearly connected high up” Israeli came to their hotel to thank them for playing.
