Earlier in the week we reported that Radiohead were receiving huge amounts of criticism over their decision to play a scheduled gig in Israel. The highly criticised gig went ahead last night in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel and we’ve all the news on it!
The criticism arose because the band refused to take part in a cultural boycott of Israel, to protest against human rights violations in the country. Radiohead have played in Israel eight times before, when the boycott was non-existent.
Radiohead were asked multiple times to cancel the gig, even receiving an open letter from Artists For Palestine UK. The letter was signed by a multitude of artists including Thurston Moore, Roger Waters and Young Fathers who asked the rockers to “think again” about their plans to perform. Radiohead’s singer Thom Yorke even had a Twitter spat with director Ken Loach about the Israel gig. Loach asked the band if they would “stand with the oppressed or the oppressor?”
Yorke took to the social media platform prior to the gig, explaining: “Playing in a country isn’t the same as endorsing its government,” adding, “Music, art and academia is about crossing borders not building them, about open minds not closed ones, about shared humanity, dialogue and freedom of expression.”
Reports from the ground of the show have said that Yorke spoke sparsely throughout the gig, saying at the end of the show, “A lot of stuff has been said about this, but in the end, we played some music.” And A LOT of music was played. The gig was the band’s longest ever, consisting of a 27 song set-list including two encores! Which may be because last night’s performance is the band’s final scheduled performance of 2017.
Ed O’Brien recently said that they are planning a small tour next year.
Our very own Siobhain and Conor spoke about the gig today on Seriously Addictive Music News!
You can also check out last night’s huge set-list below!
Setlist:
Daydreaming
Lucky
Full Stop
Airbag
15 Step
Myxomatosis
All I Need
Pyramid Song
Everything in Its Right Place
Let Down
Bloom
Identikit
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The Numbers
2 + 2 = 5
Bodysnatchers
Idioteque
Encore:
No Surprises
Nude
Like Spinning Plates
Lotus Flower
Paranoid Android
Reckoner
Encore 2:
Creep
The Bends
There There
Karma Police
