A Legendary Career, Then a Pause
Formed in Oxfordshire in the late 1980s, Radiohead — comprising Thom Yorke (vocals/keyboards), Jonny Greenwood (guitar/keys), Ed O'Brien (guitar/backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) — rose from indie-rock hopefuls to one of the most critically acclaimed acts of their generation. Their 1997 landmark album OK Computer redefined what rock bands could do in the digital age and remains widely cited among the greatest albums of all time.
Commercially, the band have tallied six UK No. 1 albums to date. Standout singles like “Creep,” “Paranoid Android,” and “No Surprises” have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and helped establish the band’s global profile.
Following the tour behind their 2016 studio album "A Moon Shaped Pool", which debuted at number one in the UK and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard 200, the band took an extended live hiatus while each member pursued separate projects.
The 2025 Tour Announcement
In early September 2025, the band announced their comeback live dates, revealing that the tour will consist of residencies in five European cities: Madrid (4, 5, 7, 8 November), Bologna (14, 15, 17, 18 November), London (21, 22, 24, 25 November), Copenhagen (1, 2, 4, 5 December), and Berlin (8, 9, 11, 12 December). Tickets are being distributed via a registration process on the band’s official website, emphasizing resale control and fair access.
This series marks the longest gap between live tours in the band’s history. The hiatus allowed the individual members to explore side careers: Yorke and Greenwood with their art-rock project The Smile, O'Brien and Selway with solo albums, and Greenwood scoring acclaimed films such as The Power of the Dog.
Why This Matters
In an era when major rock acts increasingly avoid extensive tours, Radiohead’s decision to mount a substantial European run sends a message: the band believe in live performance again, and they believe their audience remains potent. In a broader industry context, this announcement arrives amid a resurgence of 1990s and early-2000s acts revisiting the stage, tapping nostalgia while reaffirming relevance.
For fans and industry observers alike, this tour is laden with possibility. Will this be simply a destination-style run, or a springboard to new music? To date, no new studio album has been confirmed alongside the tour announcement. Nonetheless, the very regeneration of the band’s live presence hints at a renewed creative cycle.
Looking Ahead
While the tour is initially scheduled for only five cities, the band’s official site notes that they hope to do more shows elsewhere in the future. This forward-looking language has prompted speculation of additional global dates or unforeseen festival appearances. With demand already high — multiple nights per city — the commercial viability is clear.
Given Radiohead’s catalogue of challenging yet beloved albums, the live set may span decades of material — from early hits through experimental records and perhaps deeper cuts. For many fans, it represents not just the chance to hear the band live again but to witness a renewed chapter in their evolution.
Final Take
Radiohead’s announcement of their first tour in seven years is more than a headline — it is a landmark moment for a band whose career has never followed the conventional path. A long break, numerous side projects, and an unmistakable legacy behind them make this return both a celebration and a question: what comes next? For now, fans in Madrid, London, Bologna, Copenhagen, and Berlin will have front-row seats to the beginning of Radiohead’s next act.
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