Introduction

In a fiery interview with Abby Martin from Empire Files, Roger Waters, the legendary co-founder of Pink Floyd, has unleashed a barrage of criticism against Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood regarding their attitudes toward the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement aimed at Israel. Waters has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and has previously condemned Radiohead for their decision to perform in Israel.

Background on the BDS Movement and Waters' Advocacy

Back in 2017, Waters, along with several prominent artists like Thurston Moore and Tunde Adebimpe, signed an open letter urging Radiohead to reconsider their scheduled performance in Tel Aviv in light of Israel’s controversial policies in Palestine. In a counter-response, Yorke wrote an op-ed for Rolling Stone, where he dismissed the BDS movement and defended the band’s performance plans, labeling the open letter as 'confrontational.'

The Tense Exchange

Recalling their tense email exchange, Waters stated, “I wrote [Yorke] a sort of email that went, ‘I’m sorry if you thought I was being confrontational.’” The conversation seemed to stall, with Yorke allegedly complaining about the lack of constructive dialogue, while Waters countered that those advocating for BDS had been seeking to converse with him for months. 'How’d it end?' Martin asked, to which Waters replied bluntly, 'That the guy’s a complete prick!'

Waters' Views on Yorke's Recent Actions

The interview intensified when Martin mentioned Yorke's recent experience in Melbourne, where he abruptly left the stage after a protester voiced support for Palestine. Waters didn't hold back, describing Yorke as 'damaged' and 'deeply insecure,' claiming that he believes he’s intelligent but is unable to engage in meaningful conversations about such pressing issues.

Critique of Jonny Greenwood

Furthermore, Waters addressed Jonny Greenwood's recent comments regarding his collaboration with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa. Waters did not mince words, labelling Greenwood's statements as 'complete bullshit' and reinforcing that the Israel-Palestine situation is often mischaracterized as a conflict when in reality, he asserts it is a case of genocide against the Palestinian people.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Waters implored both Yorke and Greenwood to confront the reality of the situation: 'There is no argument to be made. The oppressed are the indigenous people of Palestine; the oppressor are the settler-colonial visitors from North America and Northern Europe. This is not difficult to understand.' As the tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict continue to escalate, Waters’ comments serve as a stark reminder of the broader cultural implications embedded within this long-standing political struggle. The music world finds itself divided, and as more artists speak out, the question remains: will the likes of Yorke and Greenwood be swayed to reconsider their stance? The conversation is far from over.