Radiohead Returns to London: The Best Moments From the Band’s First U.K. Show in 8 Years

For the first time in eight years, Radiohead performed in the United Kingdom, headlining a much-anticipated show at London's O2 Arena on Friday. This concert was a key stop on their European tour—their first in almost a decade—which features four-night stands in major capital cities including Madrid, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Bologna. The legendary alternative rock group, composed of Thom Yorke, Jonny and Colin Greenwood, Philip Selway, and Ed O'Brien, delivered a deeply resonant set that captivated a multi-generational audience, many of whom had waited years for the opportunity.

The staging design immediately presented a unique experience for concertgoers. A central, in-the-round stage was initially hidden by glowing panels that pulsed with light as the performance began, creating a 360-degree environment that broke from the traditional front-facing setup. During the second song, "2+2=5," the screens lifted to reveal the full band, making clear that every seat offered an excellent view. Yorke frequently moved between microphones on opposite sides, ensuring that every section of the arena felt included in the intimate atmosphere.

Thom Yorke was notably energetic, his movements taking on a fluid, dance-like quality during upbeat numbers like "15 Step" and "Kid A." Dressed in a casual denim jacket and loose jeans, he engaged the crowd with minimal stage banter, offering only brief words of appreciation. A striking feature of the evening was the audience’s collective decision to limit phone use, creating a focused and immersive shared experience. This was especially meaningful given the recent viral revival of tracks like "Let Down" on platforms such as TikTok, where the song has found a new generation of listeners.

The setlist provided a carefully curated journey through the band's celebrated discography, deliberately omitting most songs from their 1993 debut album, "Pablo Honey." Online fan communities have been closely tracking subtle variations between shows. For this London opener, changes included switching the positions of "Lucky" and "Bloom," and moving "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" to a later point in the set. This thoughtful approach ensures that each concert on the tour remains a unique event, rewarding fans who attend more than one date with a distinct experience.

The emotional peak of the evening arrived during a powerful seven-song encore. It opened with a moving performance of "Fake Plastic Trees," which gradually swelled into a massive, cathartic sing-along, with the audience's voices at times rising above Yorke's. Before launching into "Just," the singer offered a rare personal reflection, recalling, "We wrote this one on a freezing cold farm in 1994, when we thought maybe this wouldn't go anywhere. We thought, 'Fuck it, let's just write this one song.'" That pivotal creative decision, made decades earlier, ultimately led to a performance that felt both historically significant and deeply personal for everyone in attendance.