Radiohead’s 2025 reunion run was supposed to be the feel-good music story of the year: 20 shows across Europe, their first performances together in more than seven years, and a fanbase that had waited what felt like forever. But in a Rolling Stone conversation with Harry Styles, Thom Yorke revealed the aftermath looked nothing like the victory lap everyone assumed it was. He said the tour itself was genuinely fun, then described his reaction to it afterward as crashing, massively, in terms of self-confidence. It took him months to feel like himself again, and what finally pulled him out was restarting work on his solo album.
The most striking detail is Madrid. Before Radiohead played a single note on opening night, Yorke remembers wanting to burst into tears. That image sits next to everything else he’s been open about lately, including his unease with his own legacy while accepting the Academy Fellowship at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards, where Harry Styles delivered a personal tribute to him.
So what’s next? Radiohead have announced 21 more shows in Australia and Japan for 2027, even though they haven’t recorded anything new together. After a comeback that big, the band is clearly comfortable being a live act for now. The question is whether fans are just as comfortable with that. What would you rather have: another tour or a brand-new Radiohead album?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.