Artist News

Thom Yorke and Jay-Z discuss Occupy movement

By | Published on Monday 12 December 2011

Thom Yorke

A video interview featuring Thom Yorke and Massive Attack’s 3D talking about the international Occupy movement and has been released online.

Thom, 3D and one time UNKLE producer and DFA Records co-founder Tim Goldsworthy last week surprised Occupy London activists with secret DJ sets, appearing in the basement of a disused UBS building that has been occupied by protestors and rechristened the ‘Bank of Ideas’. According to a statement on the Occupy London site, HD clips and audio recordings of the performance are also to be released on a ‘pay what you want’ basis, “to help raise money for Occupy London and the wider Occupy movement”.

Arguing that many people feel “powerless” to comprehend the extent of the global financial crisis, Yorke said: “Because it’s in the banking system, because it’s in this great cathedral of glass and steel, we’re not allowed to say anything about it”.

He also spoke out in staunch support of the Occupy protestors, adding: “If the British government is not prepared to really make amends to the British people by penalising the banks the way they should, then I think we should do it ourselves”.

Another music star to weigh in on the debate is rapper Jay-Z, who said recently that the original Occupy movement on Wall Street is “a good thing” in that it gives voice to young peoples’ views. Though, given that his clothing brand Rocawear is still profiting from the sale of those previously reported ‘Occupy All Streets’ t-shirts on its website, his being in favour of the protest is unsurprising, not to mention lucrative. Oh well, hip hop moguls will be hip hop moguls.

Watch his interview with CNN Money here.



READ MORE ABOUT: |