# The only good political band Thom Yorke ever saw: “It’s just shite”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-only-good-political-band-thom-yorke-ever-saw-its-just-shite/
- Published: 2026-08-05T12:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-25T06:08:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/only-good-political-band-thom-yorke-ever-saw/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Thom Yorke says Radiohead deliberately avoid making political statements in songs.
- He calls most political songwriting "shite" and ineffective.
- He singles out The Clash as the one band who did politics well.

## Summary

Thom Yorke has long insisted that Radiohead, despite the political undertones running through much of their work, are not a "political band". Speaking to NME, the frontman argued that most attempts at political songwriting come across as hollow or, in his words, "shite", and explained that Radiohead deliberately avoid making direct statements through their lyrics, preferring atmosphere and mood over explicit messaging.

Yorke pointed to the making of Hail to the Thief as a key example, describing how he lifted words and phrases from media coverage of George W Bush's presidency and used them purely as "wallpaper", stripped of political context, rather than as deliberate commentary. He conceded there is one notable exception to his scepticism about political music: The Clash, whom he credited as a band able to write political songs and "get away with it", unlike Radiohead, who he insists have "no intention" of attempting the same.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.