For some of us it's a difficult time to be a Radiohead fan.
The British band, whose albums The Bends, OK Computer and Kid-A regularly feature on those "best ever" lists, on Wednesday played a sold-out gig in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In doing so, they ignored an economic and culturalboycott of Israel called by a majority of Palestinian civil society groups, aimed at putting international pressure on the Israeli government to end their apartheid policies towards Palestinians.
The concert took place at the same time as Israel was restricting electricity to Gaza's 2million inhabitants, down to 2-4 hours a day. Fridges can't run, hospitals can't function and there's an extreme shortage of water.
Leading up to the Tel Aviv concert, many Radiohead fans in Britain had been pleading with them to cancel the show. Some attended concerts waving Palestinian flags.
THE SHOW: Thom Yorke with Radiohead played to a sold-out concert in Tel Aviv. PHOTO/FILE
An open letter was written to Radiohead signed by many prominent UK-based and international musicians, actors, writers and movie makers.
The letter stated: "In asking you not to perform in Israel, Palestinians have appealed to you to take one small step to help pressure Israel to end its violation of basic rights and international law.
"Please do what artists did in South Africa's era of oppression: stay away, until apartheid is over."
One of the signatories, Desmond Tutu, known to many of us in New Zealand for his leading role in the struggle for black freedom in South Africa, has said that what exists in Israel now is worse than apartheid.
According to the United Nations, Gaza has become "unliveable". Sixty-five per cent of people have no income. Eighty-five per cent of the population depends on foreign aid to survive.
There is no freedom of movement. Palestinians can be arrested without trial. Gaza can best be described as a giant prison.
Thom Yorke, Radiohead's lead singer, has remained defiant and dismisses the boycott call, arguing that by playing to Israeli fans in Tel Aviv they were using their music to "build bridges".
One of the best responses to Yorke's stance has come from another musician, Dave Randall, formerly of the band Faithless.
He says the boycott has "drawn attention to Israel's numerous violations of international laws and the misery inflicted on Palestinians".
