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Radiohead's triumphant yet tentative return after a decade away
Radiohead took the stage at London's O2 Arena on Friday night, marking their first UK performance in **99 months** and their first new material in a decade-a gap that has left fans hungry for their signature blend of experimental rock and haunting melodies. The anticipation, stoked by setlist leaks from earlier European dates and rumors of 65 rehearsed songs, reached a fever pitch as the band launched into a sprawling, career-spanning set.
A setlist bridging eras and emotions
The two-hour performance traversed the band's evolution, from the anthemic rock of The Bends (1994) to the electronic textures of Kid A-celebrating its 25th anniversary this year-and the ethereal ballads of A Moon Shaped Pool (2016). Opening with the hypnotic Planet Telex, they segued into a searing 2 + 2 = 5, its 2003 anti-war lyrics resonating anew in today's fractured political climate. By the third song, Sit Down, Stand Up, the band-bolstered by US session drummer Chris Vatalaro-unleashed an extended percussive crescendo, a reminder of their ability to turn complexity into groove.
Yet the night wasn't without stumbles. Minor tuning and timing hiccups, rare for a band of Radiohead's precision, hinted at first-night jitters or the rust of prolonged silence. Still, when the elements aligned-as in the slinky bassline of The National Anthem or the glitchy pulse of Idioteque-the result was transcendent, the crowd swaying in unison like a sea of metronomes.
Nostalgia and new dynamics
The encore leaned heavily on '90s classics, a strategic nod to fans who've clung to these songs for decades. Fake Plastic Trees and Paranoid Android drew roars, while Let Down-recently resurrected by TikTok-proved that even deep cuts can find second lives. Thom Yorke, often reticent between songs, offered a rare glimpse into the band's origins before Just, recalling its creation on "a freezing cold farm in 1994," when Radiohead feared they'd be remembered only for Creep. The irony of their enduring legacy wasn't lost on the audience.
Visually, the performance was a study in intimacy despite the arena's scale. The band played in the round, a symbolic return to their rehearsal-room roots. Yorke, ever the restless presence, darted between acoustic guitar and electric piano, locking eyes with guitarist Ed O'Brien during Idioteque and trading licks with Jonny Greenwood in Jigsaw Falling Into Place. The chemistry suggested reconciliation after years of side projects (like Yorke and Greenwood's trio, The Smile) and rumors of internal strife-though Yorke's recent admission to The Times that "we haven't thought past the tour" tempered hopes of a full revival.
An uncertain future, a cathartic present
The tour arrives amid a backdrop of personal and creative upheaval: grief, parenthood, mental health struggles, and reported tensions over geopolitical stances. As recently as August, Yorke called a reunion "not on the cards." Yet here they were, crammed onto a stage like "sardines in a crushed tin can," as one observer noted, playing not just for the crowd but for each other. The separate dressing rooms-a first in their career-hinted at lingering fractures, but the music spoke of something deeper: a band rediscovering its pulse.
As the final notes of Karma Police faded, the question lingered: Is this a victory lap or a rebirth? Fans streaming toward the Tube, humming the melodies, might argue it's both. For now, Radiohead has defied the odds simply by standing together again. Whether that unity extends beyond this tour remains, as Yorke put it, "up for debate."
Setlist highlights
- Planet Telex
- 2 + 2 = 5
- Lucky
- Idioteque
- Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
- Paranoid Android
- Karma Police
"We haven't thought past the tour. I'm just stunned we got this far."
Thom Yorke, to The Times, November 2025
