The world of rock music is full of big voices and even bigger opinions, and few are louder than Roger Waters and Thom Yorke. The two legendary musicians — Waters from Pink Floyd and Yorke from Radiohead — have been at odds for years. Their feud mixes music, politics, and clashing personalities, and it doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon.
How It All Started
The trouble began back in 2017, when Radiohead decided to perform in Tel Aviv, Israel. Waters, who strongly supports the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions), urged the band to cancel the concert as a show of support for Palestinians.
Waters, along with other public figures like filmmaker Ken Loach and musician Thurston Moore, signed an open letter asking Radiohead not to play there. He argued that performing in Israel would send the wrong message and ignore the struggles of the Palestinian people.
Thom Yorke, however, didn’t agree. He defended the band’s choice, saying that playing a show in a country doesn’t mean they support its government. He also said it was “deeply disrespectful” for others to assume Radiohead didn’t understand the political situation. Yorke made it clear that his band just wanted to connect with fans — not get dragged into political battles.
Roger Waters Fires Back
Since then, Waters hasn’t stopped talking about it. In interviews, he’s taken several shots at Yorke, calling him “damaged,” “insecure,” and even a “timid little bloke.” His latest comments came during an appearance on The Katie Halper Show in late 2024, where he again criticized Yorke’s personality and claimed to have written him several letters over the years.
When asked if Yorke ever replied, Waters said yes — but described the replies as “snarky” and sarcastic. He also teased that their exchanges will appear in his upcoming memoir.
Yorke Speaks Out
Yorke has mostly stayed quiet about the feud, but he did make a rare political post on Instagram in 2025. In it, he criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his “crew of extremists,” saying they were “totally out of control.” He also called for the release of hostages and said both sides of the conflict are suffering — but ended with a strong message: “Palestine should be free.”
Yorke also expressed frustration about how social media forces artists to pick sides, saying that “witch-hunts” and constant pressure only make people more divided. He believes that shouting matches online don’t help anyone.
Fans and Critics React
Yorke’s statement received mixed reactions. Some praised him for finally speaking up, while others felt he made the issue too much about himself. Many also noticed that Yorke didn’t mention Jonny Greenwood, his bandmate who is married to Israeli artist Sharona Katan and has collaborated with Israeli musicians in the past.
Waters, on the other hand, continues to face his own criticism. Some people agree with his pro-Palestinian stance, but others accuse him of being too aggressive and even spreading hateful ideas.
More Than Just a Feud
While this may seem like just another celebrity argument, it highlights a bigger debate in the music world — should artists stay out of politics, or should they use their voices to fight for causes they believe in?
Waters sees silence as complicity, while Yorke believes musicians should make their own choices without being bullied or guilt-tripped. Both have passionate followers, and both clearly care deeply about what’s happening in the world — they just show it in very different ways.
Final Thoughts
The Waters-Yorke feud is a reminder that even great musicians don’t always see eye to eye. What started as a disagreement over one concert has turned into a years-long clash about politics, pride, and personal values. Whether or not they ever make peace, one thing is clear — both Roger Waters and Thom Yorke aren’t afraid to speak their minds, no matter who disagrees.
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/roger-waters-reignites-thom-yorke-feud-timid-little-bloke/