As the date of Radiohead’s highly controversial concert in Israel draws nearer, the number of people with opinions about it grows increasingly large. Earlier today, Roger Waters, a staunch supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, And Sanctions Movement, urged Radiohead once again to cancel, saying that the band should stop “whining” about the protest and “educate themselves.” And now Michael Stipe is saying just the opposite, applauding Thom Yorke’s decision to open up channels of dialogue and cultural exchange by playing in Tel Aviv. “I stand with Radiohead and their decision to perform,” the former R.E.M. frontman wrote in a post on Instagram. “Let’s hope a dialogue continues, helping to bring the occupation to an end and lead to a peaceful solution.”

I stand with Radiohead and their decision to perform. Let's hope a dialogue continues, helping to bring the occupation to an end and lead to a peaceful solution.
Sincerely, Michael Stipe

A post shared by @michaelstipe on Jul 16, 2017 at 2:46pm PDT