Radiohead Make Epic Return to the U.K. With Greatest Hits Set in London: Best Moments
In 2025, British music has experienced an extraordinary resurgence, with artists like Olivia Dean, Yungblud, Lola Young, and RAYE achieving significant success on the Billboard charts in the U.S. Amidst this vibrant landscape, the return of the iconic band Radiohead has surprisingly flown under the radar. After a seven-year hiatus, the art-rock quintet has embarked on a limited tour across major European cities, but unlike many of their contemporaries, they are not promoting new music. Instead, their shows feature an unpredictable setlist drawn from their rich discography, making this comeback feel refreshingly understated for a band of their stature.
Despite their low-key return, 2025 has been a noteworthy year for Radiohead. Earlier this year, the band revisited their 2003 album *Hail to The Thief* and collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company on a new production of *Hamlet*. Additionally, the track “Let Down” from their 1997 landmark album *OK Computer* gained renewed popularity, making its debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Their Spotify monthly listener count has soared to over 44 million, surpassing legendary British acts such as Oasis, The Rolling Stones, and even The Beatles. This surge in popularity comes despite a period of relative inactivity, with their last album, *A Moon Shaped Pool*, released in 2016 and their subsequent tour concluding in 2018. Frontman Thom Yorke noted in an exclusive interview that the band paused touring due to some challenges but expressed that the passion for their music has never waned.
As whispers of a comeback began to circulate last year, bassist Colin Greenwood revealed that the band had reconvened to rehearse their extensive back catalogue. This led to the announcement of a limited tour in September, featuring 20 shows in cities like Madrid, Bologna, London, Copenhagen, and Berlin. With 70 songs in contention and an innovative “in the round” performance style, the tour has provided a unique opportunity for the band to connect with fans and celebrate their musical legacy without the pressure of new material. As the tour progresses, it has turned into a captivating experience for both the band and their audience, showcasing the best of Radiohead’s artistry and leaving fans eager for more. With their recent performances, Radiohead has not only reaffirmed their status as one of the most influential bands of their generation but has also reminded the world of their enduring appeal in the ever-evolving music landscape.
British music has had such a banner year in 2025, that
Radiohead’s
return has flown a touch under the radar. With
Olivia Dean
,
Yungblud
,
Lola Young
and
RAYE
all conquering the
Billboard
charts in the U.S., and
Oasis
putting on the
biggest tour
of the year, the
return
of the art-rock fivepiece after an seven-year absence feels low-key in comparison. There is no new music to plug, simply a run of shows in major European cities, and an unpredictable setlist – this is as understated as an arena-headlining band could ever dream to be.
That said, 2025 has still been notable for the group. Earlier this year they
reassessed
their 2003 album
Hail to The Thief
and worked with the
Royal Shakespeare Company for a new production
of
Hamlet
. Elsewhere “Let Down,” an album track from their 1997 opus
OK Computer
went viral
and landed on the
Billboard Hot 100
for the first time. Their Spotify monthly listener count now tops 44m users, higher than other British rockers such as Oasis, The Rolling Stones and even The Beatles.
All this comes despite a period of relative inactivity. The band’s last LP
A Moon Shaped Pool
was released in 2016 and the group completed touring for it in 2018. Yorke told
The Times
in an exclusive interview that touring was paused for Radiohead because “the wheels came off a bit,” but the fire has still burned. Since their hiatus, each member has embarked on solo projects, most prominently garage-rock side project The Smile featuring frontman Thon Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood.
Last year, however, word of a comeback started to spread. Bassist Colin Greenwood let slip that the group had reconvened to rehearse their back catalogue, and rumours of a wider tour soon followed. A limited run of tour dates was announced in September, featuring 20 shows in Madrid, Spain; Bologna, Italy; London, England; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Berlin, Germany. 70 songs were touted as being in contention (the band have played 43 different tracks thus far) and the group announced they would be playing in the round for the first time.
The shows thus far have been a triumph, a rare chance for the band to look back at their discography and perform live without the necessity of promoting new music. This is a comeback that has proved as mysterious and thrilling as their studio material thus far. As the tour hit the halfway mark,
Billboard
was on hand to see the band’s first U.K. show in eight years. These were the best moments.
