After a seven-year absence from live performances, acclaimed band Radiohead is set to return to the stage, with frontman Thom Yorke and guitarist Ed O’Brien recently shedding light on the reasons behind their extended hiatus. The band’s break from touring began after their `A Moon Shaped Pool` tour concluded in August 2018 with a show in Philadelphia, a period Yorke described as when “the wheels came off a bit, so we had to stop.” He emphasized the need to halt before reaching a breaking point, despite the shows themselves feeling great.

A significant factor contributing to Yorke’s need for a break was his personal grief following the death of his first wife, Dr. Rachel Owen, in late 2016. Yorke revealed he hadn’t truly given himself time to grieve, stating, “My grief was coming out in ways that made me think, I need to take this away.” While music often serves as a source of healing, for Yorke during this period, it became a painful reminder. He recounted instances where seeking solace in music, such as playing the piano, caused physical pain due to the trauma he was experiencing.

Ed O’Brien also openly discussed the severe emotional and mental toll the previous tour took on him. By its end, he admitted to feeling “effectively over Radiohead,” enjoying the gigs but disliking everything else, feeling “disconnected, f—ing spent.” This emotional distance led to deep reflection, culminating in O’Brien hitting “the bottom in 2021.” However, this challenging period ultimately fostered a renewed appreciation for his bandmates, realizing “how much I love these guys” and the enduring quality of their music, transforming his perspective from not wanting to perform again to recognizing their “stellar songs.”

The band has now announced their highly anticipated return to live performance with a limited run of 20 shows across five European cities: Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin. This tour is scheduled to commence on November 4, and tickets for all dates sold out almost immediately upon release, underscoring the enduring demand for their live presence.

Despite their return, past controversies continue to surface. In the same interview, band members addressed criticisms concerning their 2017 performance in Tel Aviv, Yorke’s confrontation with a protester during a 2024 solo show in Melbourne, and Jonny Greenwood’s artistic collaboration with Israeli musician Dudu Tassa. Yorke expressed that the “low-level Arthur Miller witch-hunt” surrounding their stance on Israel and Palestine significantly impacts him, even causing him to lose sleep. However, Greenwood stated his polite disagreement with cultural boycotts of Israeli artists, highlighting varied perspectives within the band on political engagements. The upcoming European tour marks Radiohead’s first run of shows since 2018, starting November 4 in Madrid and continuing through December with stops in London, Berlin, Bologna, and Copenhagen.